WO2012141172A1 - Backlight unit, and liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Backlight unit, and liquid crystal display device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2012141172A1
WO2012141172A1 PCT/JP2012/059782 JP2012059782W WO2012141172A1 WO 2012141172 A1 WO2012141172 A1 WO 2012141172A1 JP 2012059782 W JP2012059782 W JP 2012059782W WO 2012141172 A1 WO2012141172 A1 WO 2012141172A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
led
liquid crystal
backlight unit
light
luminance
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/059782
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
和樹 大福
Original Assignee
シャープ株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by シャープ株式会社 filed Critical シャープ株式会社
Publication of WO2012141172A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012141172A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
    • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
    • G09G3/3406—Control of illumination source
    • G09G3/342—Control of illumination source using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
    • G09G2320/06—Adjustment of display parameters
    • G09G2320/0626—Adjustment of display parameters for control of overall brightness
    • G09G2320/064—Adjustment of display parameters for control of overall brightness by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an edge light type backlight unit that emits part of planar light having different luminance, and relates to a liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit.
  • liquid crystal display devices are often used as display devices.
  • the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel unit and a backlight unit disposed on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel unit, and the liquid crystal panel unit transmits the degree of transmittance (transmittance) of planar light from the backlight unit. ) For each pixel, and an image is displayed in the image display area in front of the liquid crystal panel unit.
  • backlight units There are two types of backlight units.
  • One is a light guide plate method (edge light method) that includes a light guide plate and allows light to enter from the light incident surface of the side surface of the light guide plate, and the other is a direct type method in which a light source is arranged on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel unit. It is.
  • a light guide plate method edge light method
  • a direct type method in which a light source is arranged on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel unit. It is.
  • an edge light type backlight unit that is effective for thinning is often used (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-160035).
  • a light emitting diode In the backlight unit, a light emitting diode (LED) is often used for the light source unit.
  • the LED itself is smaller and has a longer life than a fluorescent lamp (such as a cold-cathode tube) that has been conventionally used, and the drive circuit can be simplified, and the backlight unit can be further reduced in size and thickness. It becomes.
  • the edge light type backlight unit it is preferable to make the light incident as uniform as possible on the light incident surface formed on the side surface of the light guide plate.
  • a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a straight line.
  • a light source unit that uniformly and simultaneously lights the plurality of LEDs is used.
  • the light incident surface of the light guide plate is devised so as to be easily diffused, or the shape of the light guide plate is devised to diffuse the light from the LED in the light guide plate.
  • the uniformity of the emitted planar light is improved (see Japanese Patent No. 3770558).
  • FIG. 11 is a layout view showing a backlight unit of a conventional liquid crystal display device.
  • the backlight unit 91 includes a light guide plate 92 and a light source unit 93 in which a plurality of LEDs 31 are linearly arranged.
  • the light emission of the light source unit 93 is controlled by the LED drive circuit 94.
  • the light source unit 93 divides a plurality of LEDs 31 into LED blocks 931 to 935 every predetermined number (here, 8). Inside the LED blocks 931 to 935, the LEDs 31 are connected in series, and the LED blocks 931 to 935 are connected in parallel.
  • the LED drive circuit 94 includes a connector 941 and an LED control circuit 95.
  • the LED blocks 931 to 935 are connected to the LED control circuit 95 in parallel.
  • the LED power supply (LEp), the enable signal (ES), and the luminance adjustment signal (Lm) are input to the LED drive circuit 94 via the connector 941.
  • the luminance adjustment signal (Lm) is a signal for adjusting the luminance of the planar light.
  • the enable signal (ES) and the luminance adjustment signal (Lm) are transmitted to the LED control circuit 95.
  • the LED control circuit 95 switches on / off the LED blocks 931 to 935 in accordance with the input of the enable signal (ES). That is, the LED control circuit 95 confirms the enable signal (ES) and controls the brightness of the LED blocks 931 to 935 (LED 31) based on the brightness adjustment signal (Lm).
  • the LED control circuit 95 is configured to receive a single luminance adjustment signal (Lm) and control light emission of each LED block 931 to 935 based on the luminance adjustment signal (Lm). ⁇ 935 emit light with the same luminance.
  • the observer (operator) is alerted when there is a predetermined input, or the performance is enhanced when a predetermined condition is satisfied. is there.
  • the liquid crystal display device an image with display contents that can be easily recognized by an observer is displayed, or an image is switched and displayed, thereby raising attention or enhancing the performance.
  • the liquid crystal display device cannot display a new image or cannot switch the image. It may be difficult to call attention or improve performance.
  • the present invention is an edge light type backlight unit using an LED as a light source, and adjusts the luminance of a part of the planar light based on a signal from the outside.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight unit capable of directing consciousness and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight unit.
  • the present invention includes a light source unit that includes a plurality of LEDs and is divided into a plurality of LED blocks for each of a certain number of LEDs, and receives light from the light source unit and emits planar light.
  • the LED control means can control the light emission of each of the plurality of LED blocks independently. By causing the plurality of LED blocks to emit light with the same luminance, uniform planar light can be emitted.
  • an arbitrary LED block can be made to emit light with a luminance different from that of other LED blocks, and planar light having a partially different luminance can be irradiated.
  • the LED control means may control the light emission of the LED block by PWM control.
  • the luminance adjustment signal supplied to the LED control means may be a PWM signal used for PWM control.
  • a PWM circuit may be provided that generates a brightness adjustment signal based on the brightness information of the LED block and sends the signal to the LED control means.
  • the light source units are systematically divided into a predetermined number of LED blocks, and the LED control means controls the corresponding LED blocks of each system to emit light with the same luminance.
  • a liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit having the above-described configuration and a liquid crystal panel unit arranged in front of the backlight unit can be exemplified.
  • the video signal processing means for generating a liquid crystal drive signal for driving the liquid crystal panel unit based on the input video signal, wherein the video signal processing means includes the luminance adjustment signal and the liquid crystal drive signal. And may be synchronized.
  • the present invention is an edge light type backlight unit using an LED as a light source, and the brightness of a part of the planar light is adjusted based on a signal from the outside. It is possible to provide a backlight unit capable of directing consciousness and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight unit.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a light source provided in the backlight unit shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the display image at the time of an effect display state.
  • FIG. 1 It is a block diagram of the further another example of a liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which shows the display image in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the further another example of a liquid crystal display device. It is a layout view showing a backlight unit of a conventional liquid crystal display device.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a liquid crystal display device provided with a backlight unit according to the present invention.
  • the liquid crystal display device A includes a backlight unit 1 and a liquid crystal panel unit 5, and the liquid crystal panel unit 5 is disposed on the front side (observer side) of the backlight unit 1.
  • the backlight unit 1 is an illumination device that irradiates the liquid crystal panel unit 5 with planar light.
  • the backlight unit 1 is disposed close to the light guide plate 2, the light source unit 3 that emits light toward the light incident surface 22 formed on the side surface of the light guide plate 2, and the light guide plate 2.
  • an optical sheet group 4 including a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and the like.
  • the light guide plate 2 is formed by forming a transparent resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate into a flat plate shape.
  • the light guide plate 2 has a rectangular main surface, and one main surface forms a light output surface 21 that emits planar light. Further, the side surface on one long side of the main surface forms a light incident surface 22 that receives light from the light source unit 3.
  • the light source unit 3 is disposed to face the light incident surface 22.
  • the light source unit 3 includes a long substrate 30 disposed to face the light incident surface 22 and a plurality of LEDs 31 arranged linearly on the substrate 30.
  • the LEDs 31 are arranged at equal intervals, but may be an arrangement in which the intervals are partially changed.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a wiring state of the light source. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 3 is divided into five LED blocks 321 to 325 including a predetermined number (eight in this case) of LEDs 31. The number of LEDs constituting one block is not limited to eight, and the number of LED blocks is not limited to five.
  • each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 has eight LEDs 31 connected in series, and each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can supply current individually.
  • the light source unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 has a configuration in which the anode sides of the LED blocks 321 to 325 are connected to a common wiring AN, and the cathode sides are connected to independent cathode wirings K1 to K5, respectively. Note that the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration that can individually supply current to each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be widely employed.
  • the structure which makes the cathode side common wiring may be sufficient, and both the anode side and the cathode side may be connected to the independent wiring.
  • the LED 31 is a light emitting element whose luminance changes depending on the magnitude of current. Since the plurality of LEDs 31 in the LED blocks 321 to 325 are electrically connected in series, a current having the same current value is supplied and light is emitted with the same luminance. Although details will be described later, the light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is controlled by a pulse width modulation method (hereinafter also referred to as PWM control).
  • PWM control pulse width modulation method
  • the liquid crystal panel unit 5 includes a liquid crystal panel 51 in which liquid crystal is sealed, and a polarizing plate 52 attached to the front surface (observer side) and the back surface (backlight unit 1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 51.
  • the liquid crystal panel 51 includes an array substrate, a counter substrate disposed to face the array substrate, and liquid crystal filled between the array substrate and the counter substrate.
  • the array substrate is provided with a source wiring and a gate wiring orthogonal to each other, a switching element (for example, a thin film transistor) connected to the source wiring and the gate wiring, a pixel electrode connected to the switching element, an alignment film, and the like.
  • the counter substrate is provided with a color filter in which colored portions of red, green, and blue (RGB) are arranged in a predetermined arrangement, a common electrode, an alignment film, and the like.
  • a voltage is applied between the array substrate and the counter substrate in each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 51 by driving the switching elements of the array substrate with a drive signal.
  • the degree of light transmission in each pixel is changed.
  • an image is displayed in the image display area on the viewer side of the liquid crystal panel 51.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing each part included in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.
  • the LED blocks 321 to 325 including the LEDs 31 are schematically shown. However, actually, the LEDs 31 arranged on the substrate 30 are divided for convenience.
  • the liquid crystal display device A includes a backlight unit 1, a liquid crystal panel unit 5, a receiving unit 61, a liquid crystal panel controller 62, and the like.
  • the backlight unit 1 includes a light guide plate 2, a light source unit 3, an optical sheet group 4, an LED drive circuit 7, and the like.
  • the receiving unit 61 is a video signal (white color) including LCD data signals (LCs) that are driving signals for switching elements of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 and luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) for adjusting the luminance of the backlight unit 1.
  • LCD data signals LCs
  • luminance adjustment signals Lm1 to Lm5
  • the liquid crystal panel controller 62 sends a drive signal to the switching element of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 based on the LCD data signals (LCs). Thereby, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal arranged in each pixel, and the transmittance (transmittance) of the planar light from the backlight unit 1 is adjusted for each pixel.
  • the LED drive circuit 7 is supplied with LED power (LEp). Further, the LED drive circuit 7 has a configuration in which an enable signal (Es) and luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) for adjusting the luminance of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be received via the connector 71. .
  • the LED drive circuit 7 includes an LED control circuit 8 (LED control means) that controls the light emission of the LED blocks 321 to 325 of the backlight unit 1.
  • the LED control circuit 8 is configured to receive the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) and the enable signal (Es).
  • the LED control circuit 8 is a circuit that controls the light emission of the LEDs 31 of the LED blocks 321 to 325 by the PWM method.
  • the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) input to the LED control circuit 8 are pulse signals (sometimes referred to as PWM signals) used in the PWM method.
  • the LED control circuit 8 causes the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 to emit light when the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are at the H level. From this, the light emission time of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is determined by the duty ratio of the PWM signal (hereinafter referred to as PWM value), and the light emission luminance of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is determined.
  • PWM value is displayed as a decimal number between 0.0 (H level of PWM signal, 0%) to 1.0 (H level of PWM signal 100%).
  • the enable signal (Es) is a signal for controlling turning on / off of the LED 31. That is, when the LED control circuit 8 confirms that the enable signal (Es) has become H level, the LED control circuit 8 starts the light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). To do.
  • the LED blocks 321 to 325 have their anodes connected to the LED control circuit 8 via the anode wiring AN.
  • the cathode side is connected to the LED control circuit 8 via cathode wirings K1 to K5 independent for each LED block.
  • the LED control circuit 8 applies the same voltage to the anode side of the LED blocks 321 to 325, and sets the voltage on the cathode side of the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). By controlling, current is supplied to the LED blocks 321 to 325 to perform light emission control.
  • FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a display image in the normal state of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the display image when the display is switched to the effect display state.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B for convenience of explanation, a gray display screen is used, and a portion with high luminance in FIG. 4B is displayed in white.
  • the liquid crystal display device A normally displays a display image with uniform brightness, but when a specific condition is satisfied ⁇ for example, when used as a display of a game device, when a game role is completed (so-called hit ) Or just before the hit (so-called reach) ⁇ , there is a case where an effect display for enhancing the effect is performed.
  • the liquid crystal display device A will be described as a case where it is used as a display unit of a game device, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the planar light emitted from the backlight unit 1 needs to have a uniform luminance distribution. Therefore, the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) having the same PWM value (for example, 0.5) are input to the LED drive circuit 7.
  • the LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). Since the PWM values of the luminance control signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are the same, the LED blocks 321 to 325 emit light with the same luminance.
  • uniform (substantially uniform) light enters the light incident surface 22 of the light guide plate 2, and planar light having a uniform luminance distribution (substantially uniform) is emitted from the light exit surface 21. .
  • planar light having a uniform luminance distribution is emitted from the light exit surface 21.
  • the image display area of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 is uniform (substantially uniform) as shown in FIG. 4A.
  • a luminance display image Im1 is displayed.
  • a display image having a high luminance such as the display image Im2 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed in the image display area of the liquid crystal display device A.
  • an effect display image such as the display image Im2 shown in FIG. 4B
  • the areas corresponding to the LED blocks 321 to 325 of the display image are A1 to A5.
  • the area A2 and the area A4 are higher in luminance than the other areas A1, A3, and A5, that is, the area A2 and the area A4 are highlighted.
  • the planar light emitted from the backlight unit 1 has a high luminance distribution in portions corresponding to the areas A2 and A4.
  • the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) received by the LED drive circuit 7 have the PWM values (for example, 0.8) of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm2, Lm4) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm3). , Lm5) is higher than the PWM value (for example, 0.5).
  • the LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). Since the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm2, Lm4) is higher than the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm3, Lm5), the emission luminance of the LED blocks 322, 324 is the LED blocks 321, 323, 325. It becomes higher than the emission luminance of
  • the planar light emitted from the light exit surface 21 The luminance distribution is also higher in the portions corresponding to the LED blocks 322 and 324 than in the other portions.
  • the luminances of the regions A2 and A4 corresponding to the LED blocks 322 and 324 of the effect display image Im2 are higher than those of the other regions A1, A3, and A5. In other words, the areas A2 and A4 are highlighted (see FIG. 4B).
  • the LED control circuit 8 can receive the luminance adjustment signal for adjusting the light emission luminance of each LED block supplied from the outside, and based on the luminance adjustment signal, the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be received.
  • the brightness of a part (areas A2 and A4) of the effect display image Im2 can be made higher (highlighted display) than the other parts (area A1, area A3, area A5), It is possible to improve the performance as compared with the display image Im1 in a normal state with uniform luminance.
  • the LED control circuit 8 can perform an effect display such that the highlight portion moves. For example, the LED control circuit 8 determines that one PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) is 0.8, the remaining PWM value is 0.5, and the PWM value is 0.8 each time a certain time elapses. Assume that a luminance adjustment signal is received such that the luminance adjustment signals are sequentially switched. After the luminance adjustment signal (Lm5), the PMW value of the luminance adjustment signal (Lm1) is switched to 0.8.
  • the LED control circuit 8 receives the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) as described above, and causes the LEDs 322, 323, 324, and 325 to emit light with high luminance in order from the LED block 321. As described above, the LED blocks 321 to 325 are controlled to emit light by the LED control circuit 8, so that the area A 2, the area A 3, The brightness of the area A4 and the area A5 is increased, that is, the highlight display portion is moved, and a higher visual effect (effect effect) than the above-described effect display can be obtained.
  • the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signal (Lm5) when a certain time elapses after the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signal (Lm5) has reached 0.8, the PWM value changes to 0.8 in the order of the luminance adjustment signals Lm4, Lm3, Lm2, and Lm1. In some cases, it is possible to obtain a visual effect (production effect) in which the highlight display portion of the display image reciprocates left and right. In addition to these, various effects can be obtained by the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5).
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a liquid crystal display device provided with another example of a backlight unit according to the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a light source provided in the backlight unit shown in FIG.
  • the liquid crystal display device B has the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A shown in FIG. 3 except that the light source 3 is different. .
  • the light source 3 includes ten LED blocks including a plurality (four in this case) of LEDs 31.
  • the LED blocks are divided into LED blocks 331 to 335 on the left side (referred to as A system) and LED blocks 331 to 335 on the right side (referred to as B system).
  • the anode side wirings of the A system LED blocks 331 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 331 to 335 are common.
  • the cathode side of each of the A system LED blocks 331 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 331 to 335 is connected to a common cathode side wiring K1 to K5. More specifically, the A-system LED block 331 and the B-system LED block 331 are connected to a common cathode-side wiring K1.
  • the cathode side of each of the A system LED blocks 332 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 332 to 335 is connected to cathode side wirings K2 to K5.
  • the anode side wiring AN and the cathode side wirings K1 to K5 are connected to the LED control circuit 8.
  • the LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5).
  • the LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) having a constant PWM value (for example, 0.5) when displaying a display image with uniform luminance.
  • the LED blocks 331 to 335 of the A system and the B system each emit light with the same luminance. Thereby, in the liquid crystal display device B, for example, a display image with little luminance unevenness as shown in FIG. 4A can be displayed.
  • FIG. 7 is a view showing a display image in the effect display state.
  • the display image Im3 will be described from the left as a region B1 to a region B10.
  • the regions B1 to B5 correspond to the A system LED blocks 331 to 335
  • the regions B6 to B10 correspond to the B system LED blocks 331 to 335.
  • the LED control circuit 8 When performing effect display in the liquid crystal display device B, the LED control circuit 8 supplies current to each of the LED blocks 331 to 335 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). For example, the LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 331 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signal Lm1. The supply of current to the LED blocks 331 to 335 by the LED control circuit 8 is the same as described above, and will be omitted. The LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 332 to 335 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signals Lm2 to Lm5.
  • the A system The LED blocks 332 and 334, and the B system LED blocks 332 and 334 have higher emission luminance.
  • the display image Im3 displayed on the liquid crystal display device B has luminance as shown in FIG. That is, the brightness of the region B2, the region B4, the region B7, and the region B9 is higher than that of other regions.
  • the liquid crystal display device B it is possible to display a display image with high performance by displaying high luminance in a part of the region.
  • the liquid crystal display device A it is possible to change the brightness of some of the LED blocks, or to move an area with high brightness next to each other in order, thereby improving performance.
  • the region B1 to the region B5 corresponding to the A system and the region B6 to the region B10 corresponding to the B system perform the same effect display, so that the effect display with higher performance can be performed. it can.
  • the LED blocks 331 to 335 in the A area are arranged from left to right
  • the LED blocks 331 to 335 in the B area are arranged from right to left
  • brightness adjustment is performed so that the LED block 331 to the LED block 335 emit light with high luminance in order.
  • the light source 3 is provided with two systems of the A system and the B system.
  • the present invention is not limited to this, and more systems may be provided.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram of still another example of the liquid crystal display device
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display image on the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.
  • the liquid crystal display device C is a display unit of the gaming device, and displays a three-digit roulette as shown in FIG.
  • the state shown in FIG. 9 is a so-called reach state in which the left and right display portions RL and RR have a number “9” and the center display portion RC has a number “9”. It is.
  • the liquid crystal display device C shown in FIG. 8 has substantially the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A. Further, the left display portion RL is displayed in the region C2, the right display portion RR is displayed in the region C4, and the center display portion RC is displayed in the region C3.
  • the liquid crystal display device C is the same as the liquid crystal display device A when performing uniform image display. That is, the LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment circuits (Lm1 to Lm5) having the same PWM value, and causes the LED blocks 321 to 325 to emit light so as to have the same luminance. At this time, planar light having a uniform luminance distribution is emitted from the backlight unit 1 regardless of the display image in the image display area.
  • the liquid crystal display device C includes a signal processing unit 63 that synchronizes the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) and the LCD data signals (LCs).
  • the signal processing unit 63 synchronizes the LCD data signals (LCs) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) in consideration of the difference in operation time between the liquid crystal panel controller 62 and the LED drive circuit 7, thereby producing the effect.
  • the display image and the planar light are accurately synchronized.
  • the LED control circuit 8 receives the luminance adjustment signal Lm3 having a PWM value of 0.8 and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm2, Lm4, Lm5) having a PWM value of 0.4.
  • the LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). At this time, since the LED block 323 is controlled with a PWM value of 0.8, the LED block 323 emits light with higher brightness than when an image with uniform brightness is displayed. On the contrary, since the LED blocks 321, 322, 324, and 325 are controlled with a PWM value of 0.4, the light emission luminance is reduced as compared with the case of displaying an image with uniform luminance as described above. Since the LED blocks 321 to 325 emit light with such luminance, as shown in FIG. 9, the luminance of the region C3 which is the left and right central portion of the display image Im4 is high, and the remaining regions C1, C2, C4, The brightness of the area C5 is lowered.
  • the LCD data signals (LCs) and the brightness adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are synchronized by the signal processing unit 63, the area C1, the number of the left and right display parts RL and RR in FIG. C2, C4, and C5 are darkened, and a highlight display is performed in which the region C3 including the central display portion RC where the display of numbers is switched is displayed brightly.
  • the luminance of each region of the effect display image Im4 can be switched quickly or late, resulting in a rendering effect. Can be suppressed. It is not limited to highlight display, and even when the flash or highlight moves, the brightness of the planar light is adjusted according to the effect display image, so that the effect of the effect is prevented from being lowered. It is possible.
  • the signal processing unit 63 resynchronizes them again.
  • the signal processing unit 63 resynchronizes them again.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram of still another example of the liquid crystal display device.
  • the liquid crystal display device D shown in FIG. 10 has the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A shown in FIG. 3 except that the LED drive circuit 7 includes a PWM circuit 81 (current value determination circuit).
  • PWM circuit 81 current value determination circuit
  • the liquid crystal display device D includes a PWM circuit 81 inside the LED drive circuit 7.
  • the receiver 61 receives luminance adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 from the outside.
  • the brightness adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 are data indicating the brightness of the LED blocks 321 to 325, and are, for example, 12-bit digital data.
  • the brightness adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 are sent to a PWM circuit 81 provided in the LED drive circuit 7.
  • the PWM circuit 81 generates luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) based on the luminance adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5, and sends them to the LED control circuit 8.
  • the LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5).
  • the LED drive circuit 7 of the backlight unit 1 receives a luminance adjustment signal or luminance adjustment data for adjusting the luminance of each LED block from the outside, and performs light emission control of each LED block. Yes.
  • the backlight unit according to the present invention can generate a PWM signal internally, so that it can also be employed as a backlight unit of a display device of an electronic device that does not have a circuit for performing PWM control. It is.
  • the liquid crystal display devices A to D are described as being used as display units of the game device.
  • the present invention is not limited to this, and electronic devices such as information home appliances, notebook PCs, and mobile phones are used. It can also be used as a display unit.
  • the effect display state can be used as a caution display state for alerting the user when an incorrect input is made or when some trouble occurs.
  • the brightness of the LED block corresponding to the predetermined area of the display image is increased in the effect display state, but the LED corresponding to the predetermined area of the display image is displayed. You may make it perform control which makes the brightness
  • the liquid crystal display device is described as an image display device using the backlight unit of the present invention.
  • the present invention is not limited to this, and the backlight unit according to the present invention is a transmissive type. It can be widely used in image display devices.
  • the backlight unit and the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be used as a display unit of an electronic device such as an information appliance, a notebook PC, a mobile phone, or a game device.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal Display Device Control (AREA)

Abstract

A backlight unit provided with: a light source unit (3) having a plurality of LEDs (31) and divided into a plurality of LED blocks (321 to 325) per a predetermined number of LEDs (31); a light guide plate (2) for receiving the light from the light source unit (3) and for emitting planar light; and an LED control means (7) capable of controlling the light emission of the LED blocks (321 to 325) on the basis of a luminance adjustment signal. The LED control means (7) receives a luminance adjustment signal for each LED block (321 to 325).

Description

バックライトユニット及び液晶表示装置Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device
　本発明は、一部の輝度が異なる面状光を出射するエッジライト方式のバックライトユニットに関するものであり、このバックライトユニットを備えた液晶表示装置に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an edge light type backlight unit that emits part of planar light having different luminance, and relates to a liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit.
　情報家電、ノートＰＣ、携帯電話、遊戯装置等の電子機器では、表示装置として液晶表示装置が多く用いられている。前記液晶表示装置は、液晶パネルユニットと、前記液晶パネルユニットの背面に配置されるバックライトユニットを備えており、前記液晶パネルユニットが、前記バックライトユニットからの面状光の透過度合（透過率）を画素毎に調整し、前記液晶パネルユニットの正面の画像表示領域に画像を表示する。 In electronic appliances such as information home appliances, notebook PCs, mobile phones and game machines, liquid crystal display devices are often used as display devices. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel unit and a backlight unit disposed on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel unit, and the liquid crystal panel unit transmits the degree of transmittance (transmittance) of planar light from the backlight unit. ) For each pixel, and an image is displayed in the image display area in front of the liquid crystal panel unit.
　前記バックライトユニットには、大きく分けて２種類ある。１つは導光板を備え、前記導光板の側面の入光面から光を入射させる導光板方式（エッジライト方式）であり、もう１つは液晶パネルユニットの背面に光源を配置した直下型方式である。前記電子機器では、表示装置の薄型化の要求が高く、薄型化に有効なエッジライト方式のバックライトユニットが用いられることが多い（特開平９－１６００３５号公報等参照）。 There are two types of backlight units. One is a light guide plate method (edge light method) that includes a light guide plate and allows light to enter from the light incident surface of the side surface of the light guide plate, and the other is a direct type method in which a light source is arranged on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel unit. It is. In the electronic equipment, there is a high demand for thin display devices, and an edge light type backlight unit that is effective for thinning is often used (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-160035).
　前記バックライトユニットでは、光源ユニットに発光ダイオード（ＬＥＤ）が用いられることが多くなっている。前記ＬＥＤは、従来用いられてきた蛍光ランプ（冷陰極管等）に比べてそれ自体小型で長寿命であるとともに、駆動回路を簡略化でき、バックライトユニットの更なる小型化及び薄型化が可能となる。 In the backlight unit, a light emitting diode (LED) is often used for the light source unit. The LED itself is smaller and has a longer life than a fluorescent lamp (such as a cold-cathode tube) that has been conventionally used, and the drive circuit can be simplified, and the backlight unit can be further reduced in size and thickness. It becomes.
　エッジライト式バックライトユニットでは、導光板の側面に形成された入光面になるべく均一な光を入射させることが好ましく、点光源であるＬＥＤを用いる場合、複数個のＬＥＤを直線状に配列し、この複数個のＬＥＤを均一且つ同時に点灯させる光源ユニットが用いられる。また、導光板の入光面の形状を拡散しやすい形状となるように工夫したり、導光板の形状を工夫したりすることで前記ＬＥＤからの光を導光板内で拡散させ、導光板から出射される面状光の均一性を高めている（特許第３７７０５５８号公報参照）。 In the edge light type backlight unit, it is preferable to make the light incident as uniform as possible on the light incident surface formed on the side surface of the light guide plate. When using an LED as a point light source, a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a straight line. A light source unit that uniformly and simultaneously lights the plurality of LEDs is used. In addition, the light incident surface of the light guide plate is devised so as to be easily diffused, or the shape of the light guide plate is devised to diffuse the light from the LED in the light guide plate. The uniformity of the emitted planar light is improved (see Japanese Patent No. 3770558).
　光源にＬＥＤを用いたエッジライト方式のバックライトユニットについて図面を参照して説明する。図１１は従来の液晶表示装置のバックライトユニットを示す配置図である。図１１に示すように、バックライトユニット９１は、導光板９２と、複数個のＬＥＤ３１が直線状に配列された光源ユニット９３とを備えている。また、光源ユニット９３の発光はＬＥＤ駆動回路９４にて制御される。 An edge light type backlight unit using an LED as a light source will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a layout view showing a backlight unit of a conventional liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 11, the backlight unit 91 includes a light guide plate 92 and a light source unit 93 in which a plurality of LEDs 31 are linearly arranged. The light emission of the light source unit 93 is controlled by the LED drive circuit 94.
　図１１に示すように、光源ユニット９３は、複数個のＬＥＤ３１を所定個数（ここでは、８個）毎にＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５として区切っている。各ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５の内部では、ＬＥＤ３１が直列に接続されており、ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５は並列に接続されている。 As shown in FIG. 11, the light source unit 93 divides a plurality of LEDs 31 into LED blocks 931 to 935 every predetermined number (here, 8). Inside the LED blocks 931 to 935, the LEDs 31 are connected in series, and the LED blocks 931 to 935 are connected in parallel.
　図１１に示すように、ＬＥＤ駆動回路９４は、コネクタ９４１と、ＬＥＤコントロール回路９５とを備えている。各ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５はＬＥＤコントロール回路９５に並列に接続されている。 As shown in FIG. 11, the LED drive circuit 94 includes a connector 941 and an LED control circuit 95. The LED blocks 931 to 935 are connected to the LED control circuit 95 in parallel.
　ＬＥＤ駆動回路９４には、コネクタ９４１を介して、ＬＥＤ電源（ＬＥｐ）、イネーブル信号（ＥＳ）、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）が入力される。輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）は面状光の輝度を調整するための信号である。イネーブル信号（ＥＳ）、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）はＬＥＤコントロール回路９５に送信される。 The LED power supply (LEp), the enable signal (ES), and the luminance adjustment signal (Lm) are input to the LED drive circuit 94 via the connector 941. The luminance adjustment signal (Lm) is a signal for adjusting the luminance of the planar light. The enable signal (ES) and the luminance adjustment signal (Lm) are transmitted to the LED control circuit 95.
　また、ＬＥＤコントロール回路９５は、イネーブル信号（ＥＳ）の入力に従って、ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５の点灯／消灯の切り替えを行う。すなわち、ＬＥＤコントロール回路９５は、イネーブル信号（ＥＳ）を確認し、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）に基づいて各ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５（ＬＥＤ３１）の輝度制御を行う。ＬＥＤコントロール回路９５は、単一の輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）を受信し、その輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ）に基づいて、各ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５を発光制御する構成であり、各ＬＥＤブロック９３１～９３５は同じ輝度で発光する。 The LED control circuit 95 switches on / off the LED blocks 931 to 935 in accordance with the input of the enable signal (ES). That is, the LED control circuit 95 confirms the enable signal (ES) and controls the brightness of the LED blocks 931 to 935 (LED 31) based on the brightness adjustment signal (Lm). The LED control circuit 95 is configured to receive a single luminance adjustment signal (Lm) and control light emission of each LED block 931 to 935 based on the luminance adjustment signal (Lm). ˜935 emit light with the same luminance.
　上述するような、電子機器において、予め決められた入力があったときに観察者（操作者）に注意を喚起したり、予め決められた条件を満たしたときに演出性を高めたりする場合がある。前記液晶表示装置では、観察者が認識しやすい表示内容の画像を表示したり、画像を切り替えて表示したりすることで、注意の喚起或いは演出性を高めることを行っている。 In the electronic device as described above, there is a case where the observer (operator) is alerted when there is a predetermined input, or the performance is enhanced when a predetermined condition is satisfied. is there. In the liquid crystal display device, an image with display contents that can be easily recognized by an observer is displayed, or an image is switched and displayed, thereby raising attention or enhancing the performance.
特開平９－１６００３５号公報Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-160035 特許第３７７０５５８号公報Japanese Patent No. 3770558
　しかしながら、前記液晶表示装置は表示内容によって、画像表示領域に表示している画像を切り替えることが困難な場合、新たな画像を表示できなかったり、画像の切り替えができなかったりして、観察者に注意を喚起したり、演出性を高めたりすることが困難な場合がある。 However, when it is difficult to switch the image displayed in the image display area depending on the display content, the liquid crystal display device cannot display a new image or cannot switch the image. It may be difficult to call attention or improve performance.
　また、上述したように、面状光全体で輝度を変化させることで、観察者の注意を引いたり演出性を高めることが可能であるが、液晶表示装置で表示されている画面全体で輝度が変化するので、表示画像の所定の部分に観察者の注意を喚起したり、演出性を高める効果が十分でない場合があった。 In addition, as described above, it is possible to draw the viewer's attention and enhance the performance by changing the luminance of the entire planar light, but the luminance of the entire screen displayed on the liquid crystal display device is high. Since it changes, the effect of raising the viewer's attention to a predetermined portion of the display image or enhancing the rendering performance may not be sufficient.
　そこで本発明は、光源にＬＥＤを用いたエッジライト方式のバックライトユニットであって、外部からの信号に基づいて、面状光の一部の輝度を調整し、前記輝度の変化によって、観察者の意識を向けさせることができるバックライトユニット及びこのバックライトユニットを利用した液晶表示装置を提供することを目的とする。 Therefore, the present invention is an edge light type backlight unit using an LED as a light source, and adjusts the luminance of a part of the planar light based on a signal from the outside. An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight unit capable of directing consciousness and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight unit.
　上記目的を達成するため本発明は、複数のＬＥＤを備え、一定数のＬＥＤごとに複数のＬＥＤブロックに分けられている光源ユニットと、前記光源ユニットからの光を受光し面状光を出射する導光板と、前記複数のＬＥＤブロックのそれぞれに対応したＬＥＤの輝度を調整するための輝度調整用信号を受信し、前記複数のＬＥＤブロックを個別に発光制御するＬＥＤコントロール手段とを有していることを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a light source unit that includes a plurality of LEDs and is divided into a plurality of LED blocks for each of a certain number of LEDs, and receives light from the light source unit and emits planar light. A light guide plate; and an LED control unit that receives a luminance adjustment signal for adjusting the luminance of the LED corresponding to each of the plurality of LED blocks, and individually controls the light emission of the plurality of LED blocks. It is characterized by that.
　この構成によると、前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段が前記複数のＬＥＤブロックのそれぞれを独立して発光制御することができる。前記複数のＬＥＤブロックを同じ輝度で発光させることで、均一な面状光を出射することが可能である。また、任意のＬＥＤブロックを他のＬＥＤブロックと異なる輝度で発光させることができ、輝度が一部異なる面状光を照射することができる。 According to this configuration, the LED control means can control the light emission of each of the plurality of LED blocks independently. By causing the plurality of LED blocks to emit light with the same luminance, uniform planar light can be emitted. In addition, an arbitrary LED block can be made to emit light with a luminance different from that of other LED blocks, and planar light having a partially different luminance can be irradiated.
　これにより、液晶表示装置のような透過型の画像表示装置で輝度ムラの少ない表示画像を表示することができるとともに、一部に輝度の異なる表示画像を表示することも可能である。このことから、表示画像を変更することなく、観察者の注意を引くことが可能である。 Thereby, it is possible to display a display image with little luminance unevenness on a transmission type image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and it is also possible to display a display image having a different luminance in part. From this, it is possible to draw the viewer's attention without changing the display image.
　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段は、前記ＬＥＤブロックをＰＷＭ制御にて発光制御していてもよい。 The LED control means may control the light emission of the LED block by PWM control.
　上記構成において、　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段に供給される輝度調整用信号が、ＰＷＭ制御に用いられるＰＷＭ信号であってもよい。 In the above configuration, the luminance adjustment signal supplied to the LED control means may be a PWM signal used for PWM control.
　上記構成において前記ＬＥＤブロックの輝度の情報に基づいて輝度調整用信号を生成し、前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段に送るＰＷＭ回路を備えていてもよい。 In the above configuration, a PWM circuit may be provided that generates a brightness adjustment signal based on the brightness information of the LED block and sends the signal to the LED control means.
　上記構成において、前記光源ユニットは所定数のＬＥＤブロックごとに系統分けされており、前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段が各系統の対応するＬＥＤブロックを同じ輝度で発光制御する。 In the above configuration, the light source units are systematically divided into a predetermined number of LED blocks, and the LED control means controls the corresponding LED blocks of each system to emit light with the same luminance.
　上記構成のバックライトユニットと、前記バックライトユニットの正面に配置された液晶パネルユニットとを含む液晶表示装置を挙げることができる。 A liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit having the above-described configuration and a liquid crystal panel unit arranged in front of the backlight unit can be exemplified.
　上記構成において、入力される映像信号に基づいて液晶パネルユニットを駆動するための液晶駆動信号を生成する映像信号処理手段を備え、前記映像信号処理手段は、前記輝度調整用信号と前記液晶駆動信号とを同期させてもよい。 In the above configuration, the video signal processing means for generating a liquid crystal drive signal for driving the liquid crystal panel unit based on the input video signal is provided, wherein the video signal processing means includes the luminance adjustment signal and the liquid crystal drive signal. And may be synchronized.
　本発明によると、光源にＬＥＤを用いたエッジライト方式のバックライトユニットであって、外部からの信号に基づいて、面状光の一部の輝度を調整し、前記輝度の変化によって、観察者の意識を向けさせることができるバックライトユニット及びこのバックライトユニットを利用した液晶表示装置を提供することができる。 According to the present invention, it is an edge light type backlight unit using an LED as a light source, and the brightness of a part of the planar light is adjusted based on a signal from the outside. It is possible to provide a backlight unit capable of directing consciousness and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight unit.
本発明にかかるバックライトユニットを備えた液晶表示装置の一例の分解斜視図である。It is a disassembled perspective view of an example of the liquid crystal display device provided with the backlight unit concerning this invention. 光源の配線状態を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the wiring state of a light source. 図１に示す液晶表示装置に含まれる各部を示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows each part contained in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 図３に示す液晶表示装置の通常状態の表示画像を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the display image of the normal state of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 演出表示状態に切り替わったとき表示画像を示す図である。It is a figure which shows a display image when it switches to an effect display state. 本発明にかかるバックライトユニットの他の例を備えた液晶表示装置を示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows the liquid crystal display device provided with the other example of the backlight unit concerning this invention. 図５に示すバックライトユニットに備えられる光源の概略回路図である。FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a light source provided in the backlight unit shown in FIG. 5. 演出表示状態のときの表示画像を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the display image at the time of an effect display state. 液晶表示装置のさらに他の例のブロック図である。It is a block diagram of the further another example of a liquid crystal display device. 図８に示す液晶表示装置での表示画像を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the display image in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 液晶表示装置のさらに他の例のブロック図である。It is a block diagram of the further another example of a liquid crystal display device. 従来の液晶表示装置のバックライトユニットを示す配置図である。It is a layout view showing a backlight unit of a conventional liquid crystal display device.
　以下に本発明の実施形態について図面を参照して説明する。 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
（第１の実施形態）
　図１は本発明にかかるバックライトユニットを備えた液晶表示装置の一例の分解斜視図である。図１に示すように、液晶表示装置Ａは、バックライトユニット１、液晶パネルユニット５を備えており、バックライトユニット１の正面側（観察者側）に液晶パネルユニット５が配置されている。 (First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a liquid crystal display device provided with a backlight unit according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device A includes a backlight unit 1 and a liquid crystal panel unit 5, and the liquid crystal panel unit 5 is disposed on the front side (observer side) of the backlight unit 1.
　バックライトユニット１は、面状光を液晶パネルユニット５に照射する照明装置である。バックライトユニット１は、平板形状の導光板２と、導光板２の側面に形成された入光面２２に向けて光を照射する光源ユニット３と、導光板２と近接して配置された、拡散シート、プリズムシート等を含む光学シート群４とを備えている。 The backlight unit 1 is an illumination device that irradiates the liquid crystal panel unit 5 with planar light. The backlight unit 1 is disposed close to the light guide plate 2, the light source unit 3 that emits light toward the light incident surface 22 formed on the side surface of the light guide plate 2, and the light guide plate 2. And an optical sheet group 4 including a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and the like.
　導光板２は、ポリメチルメタクリレート（ＰＭＭＡ）、ポリカーボネイト等の透明な樹脂を平板形状に成形したものである。導光板２は長方形状の主面を有しており、一方の主面が面状光を出射する出光面２１を形成している。また、主面の一方の長辺側の側面が光源ユニット３からの光を受光する入光面２２を形成している。 The light guide plate 2 is formed by forming a transparent resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate into a flat plate shape. The light guide plate 2 has a rectangular main surface, and one main surface forms a light output surface 21 that emits planar light. Further, the side surface on one long side of the main surface forms a light incident surface 22 that receives light from the light source unit 3.
　光源ユニット３は、入光面２２と対向して配置される。光源ユニット３は、入光面２２と対向して配置される長尺形状の基板３０と、基板３０上に直線状に配列された複数個のＬＥＤ３１を備えている。なお、光源ユニット３では、ＬＥＤ３１は等間隔で配列されているが、部分的に間隔を変えた配列であってもよい。 The light source unit 3 is disposed to face the light incident surface 22. The light source unit 3 includes a long substrate 30 disposed to face the light incident surface 22 and a plurality of LEDs 31 arranged linearly on the substrate 30. In the light source unit 3, the LEDs 31 are arranged at equal intervals, but may be an arrangement in which the intervals are partially changed.
　光源ユニット３について、さらに詳しく説明する。図２は光源の配線状態を示す図である。図２に示すように、光源ユニット３は、所定数（ここでは、８個）のＬＥＤ３１で構成された、５個のＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５に分割されている。なお、１つのブロックを構成するＬＥＤの数が８個に限定されるものではなく、ＬＥＤブロックの数も５個に限定されるものでもない。 The light source unit 3 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a wiring state of the light source. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 3 is divided into five LED blocks 321 to 325 including a predetermined number (eight in this case) of LEDs 31. The number of LEDs constituting one block is not limited to eight, and the number of LED blocks is not limited to five.
　図２に示しているように、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５は、それぞれ８個のＬＥＤ３１が直列に接続されており、各ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５は個別に電流を供給できる構成となっている。図２に示す光源ユニット３では、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５のアノード側が共通の配線ＡＮに接続されており、カソード側がそれぞれ独立したカソード配線Ｋ１～Ｋ５に接続された構成を有している。なお、この構成に限定されるものではなく、各ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５に個別に電流を供給できる構成を広く採用することができる。なお、カソード側を共通の配線とする構成であってもよく、アノード側及びカソード側の両方が独立した配線に接続されていてもよい。 As shown in FIG. 2, each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 has eight LEDs 31 connected in series, and each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can supply current individually. The light source unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 has a configuration in which the anode sides of the LED blocks 321 to 325 are connected to a common wiring AN, and the cathode sides are connected to independent cathode wirings K1 to K5, respectively. Note that the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration that can individually supply current to each of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be widely employed. In addition, the structure which makes the cathode side common wiring may be sufficient, and both the anode side and the cathode side may be connected to the independent wiring.
　ＬＥＤ３１は、電流の大きさによって輝度が変化する発光素子である。そして、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５内の複数のＬＥＤ３１は電気的に直列に接続されているので、同じ電流値の電流が供給され、同一の輝度で発光する。なお、詳細は後述するが、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光制御はパルス幅変調方式で制御されている（以下、ＰＷＭ制御と称する場合がある）。 The LED 31 is a light emitting element whose luminance changes depending on the magnitude of current. Since the plurality of LEDs 31 in the LED blocks 321 to 325 are electrically connected in series, a current having the same current value is supplied and light is emitted with the same luminance. Although details will be described later, the light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is controlled by a pulse width modulation method (hereinafter also referred to as PWM control).
　液晶パネルユニット５は、液晶が封入された液晶パネル５１と、液晶パネル５１の前面（観察者側）及び背面（バックライトユニット１側）に貼り付けられた偏光板５２とを有している。液晶パネル５１は、アレイ基板と、アレイ基板と対向して配置された対向基板と、アレイ基板と対向基板との間に充填される液晶とを含んでいる。 The liquid crystal panel unit 5 includes a liquid crystal panel 51 in which liquid crystal is sealed, and a polarizing plate 52 attached to the front surface (observer side) and the back surface (backlight unit 1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 51. The liquid crystal panel 51 includes an array substrate, a counter substrate disposed to face the array substrate, and liquid crystal filled between the array substrate and the counter substrate.
　アレイ基板には、互いに直交するソース配線及びゲート配線、ソース配線及びゲート配線に接続されたスイッチング素子（例えば、薄膜トランジスタ）、スイッチング素子に接続された画素電極及び配向膜等が設けられている。そして、対向基板には、赤、緑、青（ＲＧＢ）の各着色部が所定の配列で配置されたカラーフィルタ、共通電極、配向膜等が設けられている。 The array substrate is provided with a source wiring and a gate wiring orthogonal to each other, a switching element (for example, a thin film transistor) connected to the source wiring and the gate wiring, a pixel electrode connected to the switching element, an alignment film, and the like. The counter substrate is provided with a color filter in which colored portions of red, green, and blue (RGB) are arranged in a predetermined arrangement, a common electrode, an alignment film, and the like.
　アレイ基板のスイッチング素子を駆動信号で駆動することで、液晶パネル５１の各画素におけるアレイ基板と対向基板との間に電圧が印加される。アレイ基板と対向基板の間の電圧が変化することで、各画素での光の透過度合が変更される。これにより、液晶パネル５１の観察者側の画像表示領域に画像を表示する。 A voltage is applied between the array substrate and the counter substrate in each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 51 by driving the switching elements of the array substrate with a drive signal. By changing the voltage between the array substrate and the counter substrate, the degree of light transmission in each pixel is changed. As a result, an image is displayed in the image display area on the viewer side of the liquid crystal panel 51.
　液晶表示装置の詳細について、新たな図面を参照して説明する。図３は図１に示す液晶表示装置に含まれる各部を示すブロック図である。なお、図３ではＬＥＤ３１を含むＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５を模式図で示しているが、実際には、基板３０上に配列されたＬＥＤ３１を便宜的に分割したものである。図３に示すように、液晶表示装置Ａは、バックライトユニット１、液晶パネルユニット５、受信部６１、液晶パネルコントローラ６２等を備えている。また、バックライトユニット１は、導光板２、光源ユニット３、光学シート群４、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７等を備えている。 Details of the liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to a new drawing. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing each part included in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the LED blocks 321 to 325 including the LEDs 31 are schematically shown. However, actually, the LEDs 31 arranged on the substrate 30 are divided for convenience. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device A includes a backlight unit 1, a liquid crystal panel unit 5, a receiving unit 61, a liquid crystal panel controller 62, and the like. The backlight unit 1 includes a light guide plate 2, a light source unit 3, an optical sheet group 4, an LED drive circuit 7, and the like.
　受信部６１は、液晶パネルユニット５のスイッチング素子の駆動信号であるＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）とバックライトユニット１の輝度調整を行うための輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を含む映像信号（白色の矢印）を外部（電子機器の制御装置等、不図示）より受信する。ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）は、液晶パネルコントローラ６３に、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）はＬＥＤ駆動回路７にそれぞれ送信される。 The receiving unit 61 is a video signal (white color) including LCD data signals (LCs) that are driving signals for switching elements of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 and luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) for adjusting the luminance of the backlight unit 1. Are received from the outside (electronic device control device, not shown). The LCD data signals (LCs) are transmitted to the liquid crystal panel controller 63, and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are transmitted to the LED drive circuit 7, respectively.
　液晶パネルコントローラ６２は、ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）に基づいて、液晶パネルユニット５のスイッチング素子に駆動信号を送る。これにより、各画素に配置されている液晶に電圧が印加され、バックライトユニット１からの面状光の透過度合（透過率）が画素毎に調整される。 The liquid crystal panel controller 62 sends a drive signal to the switching element of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 based on the LCD data signals (LCs). Thereby, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal arranged in each pixel, and the transmittance (transmittance) of the planar light from the backlight unit 1 is adjusted for each pixel.
　ＬＥＤ駆動回路７には、ＬＥＤ電源（ＬＥｐ）が供給されている。また、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７は、イネーブル信号（Ｅｓ）、各ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の輝度を調整するための輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）がコネクタ７１を介して受信できる構成を有している。ＬＥＤ駆動回路７は、バックライトユニット１の各ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光を制御するＬＥＤコントロール回路８（ＬＥＤコントロール手段）を備えている。ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）及びイネーブル信号（Ｅｓ）を受信可能な構成となっている。 The LED drive circuit 7 is supplied with LED power (LEp). Further, the LED drive circuit 7 has a configuration in which an enable signal (Es) and luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) for adjusting the luminance of the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be received via the connector 71. . The LED drive circuit 7 includes an LED control circuit 8 (LED control means) that controls the light emission of the LED blocks 321 to 325 of the backlight unit 1. The LED control circuit 8 is configured to receive the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) and the enable signal (Es).
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、ＰＷＭ方式でＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５のＬＥＤ３１の発光を制御する回路である。なお、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８に入力される輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）はＰＷＭ方式で用いられるパルス信号（ＰＷＭ信号と称する場合がある）である。 The LED control circuit 8 is a circuit that controls the light emission of the LEDs 31 of the LED blocks 321 to 325 by the PWM method. The luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) input to the LED control circuit 8 are pulse signals (sometimes referred to as PWM signals) used in the PWM method.
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は輝度調整信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）がＨレベルのとき、対応するＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５を発光させる。このことから、ＰＷＭ信号のデューティ比（以下、ＰＷＭ値と称する）によってＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光時間が決定され、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光輝度が決定される。なお、以下の説明において、便宜上、ＰＷＭ値として、０．０（ＰＷＭ信号のＨレベル、０％）～１．０（ＰＷＭ信号のＨレベル１００％）の小数で表示している。 The LED control circuit 8 causes the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 to emit light when the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are at the H level. From this, the light emission time of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is determined by the duty ratio of the PWM signal (hereinafter referred to as PWM value), and the light emission luminance of the LED blocks 321 to 325 is determined. In the following description, for convenience, the PWM value is displayed as a decimal number between 0.0 (H level of PWM signal, 0%) to 1.0 (H level of PWM signal 100%).
　イネーブル信号（Ｅｓ）は、ＬＥＤ３１の点灯／消灯を制御する信号である。すなわち、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８はイネーブル信号（Ｅｓ）がＨレベルになったことを確認すると、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づくＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光制御を開始する。 The enable signal (Es) is a signal for controlling turning on / off of the LED 31. That is, when the LED control circuit 8 confirms that the enable signal (Es) has become H level, the LED control circuit 8 starts the light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). To do.
　図３に示しているように、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５はアノード側がアノード配線ＡＮを介してＬＥＤコントロール回路８に接続されている。そして、カソード側はＬＥＤブロックごとに独立したカソード配線Ｋ１～Ｋ５を介してＬＥＤコントロール回路８に接続している。ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５はアノード側に同じ電圧を印加しているとともに、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいて、対応するＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５のカソード側の電圧を制御することで、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５に電流を供給し、発光制御を行っている。 As shown in FIG. 3, the LED blocks 321 to 325 have their anodes connected to the LED control circuit 8 via the anode wiring AN. The cathode side is connected to the LED control circuit 8 via cathode wirings K1 to K5 independent for each LED block. The LED control circuit 8 applies the same voltage to the anode side of the LED blocks 321 to 325, and sets the voltage on the cathode side of the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). By controlling, current is supplied to the LED blocks 321 to 325 to perform light emission control.
　上述した液晶表示装置Ａのバックライトユニット１の駆動について図面を参照して説明する。図４Ａは図３に示す液晶表示装置の通常状態の表示画像を示す図であり、図４Ｂは演出表示状態に切り替わったとき表示画像を示す図である。なお、図４Ａ、図４Ｂでは、説明の便宜上、灰色一色の表示画面とし、図４Ｂにおいて輝度が高い部分を白色で表示する。 The driving of the backlight unit 1 of the liquid crystal display device A will be described with reference to the drawings. 4A is a diagram showing a display image in the normal state of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the display image when the display is switched to the effect display state. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, for convenience of explanation, a gray display screen is used, and a portion with high luminance in FIG. 4B is displayed in white.
　液晶表示装置Ａは通常、均一な輝度の表示画像を行うが、特定条件を満たしたとき｛例えば、遊戯装置のディスプレイとして用いられるものである場合、遊戯の役が完成したとき（いわゆる、当たりのとき）や、当たり一歩手前（いわゆる、リーチのとき）｝に、演出効果を高める演出表示を行う場合がある。以下の説明では、液晶表示装置Ａが遊戯装置の表示部として用いられる場合として説明するが、それに限定されるものではない。 The liquid crystal display device A normally displays a display image with uniform brightness, but when a specific condition is satisfied {for example, when used as a display of a game device, when a game role is completed (so-called hit ) Or just before the hit (so-called reach)}, there is a case where an effect display for enhancing the effect is performed. In the following description, the liquid crystal display device A will be described as a case where it is used as a display unit of a game device, but the present invention is not limited to this.
　まず、図４Ａに示す表示画像Ｉｍ１のような、均一な輝度の表示画像を液晶表示装置Ａの画像表示領域に表示する場合について説明する。液晶表示装置Ａにおいて、均一な表示画像を表示するためには、バックライトユニット１から出射される面状光が均一な輝度分布である必要がある。そのため、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７には、同じＰＷＭ値（例えば、０．５）の輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）が入力される。ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいて、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～ＬＥＤブロック３２５の発光を制御する。輝度制御用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）のＰＷＭ値が同じであるので、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５は同じ輝度で発光する。 First, a case where a display image with uniform luminance such as the display image Im1 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed in the image display area of the liquid crystal display device A will be described. In the liquid crystal display device A, in order to display a uniform display image, the planar light emitted from the backlight unit 1 needs to have a uniform luminance distribution. Therefore, the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) having the same PWM value (for example, 0.5) are input to the LED drive circuit 7. The LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). Since the PWM values of the luminance control signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are the same, the LED blocks 321 to 325 emit light with the same luminance.
　このことから、導光板２の入光面２２には、均一な（略均一な）光が入光し、出光面２１より、輝度分布が均一な（略均一な）面状光が出射される。液晶パネルユニット５に均一な（略均一な）輝度分布の面状光が照射されることで、液晶パネルユニット５の画像表示領域には、図４Ａに示すような、均一な（略均一な）輝度の表示画像Ｉｍ１が表示される。 Accordingly, uniform (substantially uniform) light enters the light incident surface 22 of the light guide plate 2, and planar light having a uniform luminance distribution (substantially uniform) is emitted from the light exit surface 21. . By irradiating the liquid crystal panel unit 5 with planar light having a uniform (substantially uniform) luminance distribution, the image display area of the liquid crystal panel unit 5 is uniform (substantially uniform) as shown in FIG. 4A. A luminance display image Im1 is displayed.
　次に、図４Ｂに示す表示画像Ｉｍ２のような、一部分の輝度が高い表示画像（以下、演出表示画像とする）を液晶表示装置Ａの画像表示領域に表示する場合について説明する。なお、図４Ｂにおいて、表示画像のＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５と対応する領域をＡ１～Ａ５とする。 Next, a case will be described in which a display image having a high luminance (hereinafter referred to as an effect display image) such as the display image Im2 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed in the image display area of the liquid crystal display device A. In FIG. 4B, the areas corresponding to the LED blocks 321 to 325 of the display image are A1 to A5.
　図４Ｂに示すように演出表示画像Ｉｍ２は、領域Ａ２と領域Ａ４が他の領域Ａ１、Ａ３、Ａ５よりも輝度が高い、すなわち、領域Ａ２と領域Ａ４とがハイライト表示されている。領域Ａ２と領域Ａ４とをハイライト表示を行うには、バックライトユニット１から出射される面状光が、領域Ａ２及び領域Ａ４に対応する部分に高い輝度分布を備えるようにする必要がある。このとき、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７が受信する輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ４）のＰＷＭ値（例えば、０．８）が、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１、Ｌｍ３、Ｌｍ５）のＰＷＭ値（例えば、０．５）よりも高くなっている。 As shown in FIG. 4B, in the effect display image Im2, the area A2 and the area A4 are higher in luminance than the other areas A1, A3, and A5, that is, the area A2 and the area A4 are highlighted. In order to perform highlight display of the area A2 and the area A4, it is necessary that the planar light emitted from the backlight unit 1 has a high luminance distribution in portions corresponding to the areas A2 and A4. At this time, the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) received by the LED drive circuit 7 have the PWM values (for example, 0.8) of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm2, Lm4) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm3). , Lm5) is higher than the PWM value (for example, 0.5).
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいて、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光制御を行う。輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ４）のＰＷＭ値が輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１、Ｌｍ３、Ｌｍ５）のＰＷＭ値よりも高いことから、ＬＥＤブロック３２２、３２４の発光輝度が、ＬＥＤブロック３２１、３２３、３２５の発光輝度よりも高くなる。 The LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). Since the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm2, Lm4) is higher than the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm3, Lm5), the emission luminance of the LED blocks 322, 324 is the LED blocks 321, 323, 325. It becomes higher than the emission luminance of
　光源３から導光板２の入光面２２に入射する光が、ＬＥＤブロック３２２、３２４の部分で他の部分に比べて高輝度となっていることから、出光面２１から出射する面状光の輝度分布もＬＥＤブロック３２２、３２４に対応する部分で他の部分より高くなっている。このような輝度分布の面状光が液晶パネルユニット５に照射されることで、演出表示画像Ｉｍ２のＬＥＤブロック３２２、３２４に対応する領域Ａ２、Ａ４の輝度が他の領域Ａ１、Ａ３、Ａ５よりも高くなる、すなわち、領域Ａ２、Ａ４の部分がハイライト表示される（図４Ｂ参照）。 Since the light incident on the light incident surface 22 of the light guide plate 2 from the light source 3 has higher brightness in the LED blocks 322 and 324 than in the other portions, the planar light emitted from the light exit surface 21 The luminance distribution is also higher in the portions corresponding to the LED blocks 322 and 324 than in the other portions. By irradiating the liquid crystal panel unit 5 with planar light having such a luminance distribution, the luminances of the regions A2 and A4 corresponding to the LED blocks 322 and 324 of the effect display image Im2 are higher than those of the other regions A1, A3, and A5. In other words, the areas A2 and A4 are highlighted (see FIG. 4B).
　以上のように、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は外部から供給される各ＬＥＤブロックの発光輝度を調整する輝度調整用信号を受信することができ、その輝度調整用信号に基づいて、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の輝度制御を行うことで、演出表示画像Ｉｍ２の一部分（領域Ａ２及びＡ４）の輝度を他の部分（領域Ａ１、領域Ａ３、領域Ａ５）よりも高くする（ハイライト表示を行う）ことができ、輝度が均一な通常状態の表示画像Ｉｍ１に比べて演出性を高めることが可能である。 As described above, the LED control circuit 8 can receive the luminance adjustment signal for adjusting the light emission luminance of each LED block supplied from the outside, and based on the luminance adjustment signal, the LED blocks 321 to 325 can be received. By performing brightness control, the brightness of a part (areas A2 and A4) of the effect display image Im2 can be made higher (highlighted display) than the other parts (area A1, area A3, area A5), It is possible to improve the performance as compared with the display image Im1 in a normal state with uniform luminance.
　また、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８に供給される輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ４のＰＷＭ値が一定のタイミングで切り替わる（例えば、ＰＷＭ値が０．５と０．８とに切り替わる信号）であるとき、演出表示画像Ｉｍ２の領域Ａ２及びＡ４が一定のタイミングでフラッシュする。これにより、観察者（遊戯者）は画面の変化を視認しやすくなり、ハイライト表示よりもさらに演出効果を高めることも可能である。 Further, when the PWM values of the luminance adjustment signals Lm2 and Lm4 supplied to the LED control circuit 8 are switched at a constant timing (for example, a signal for switching the PWM value between 0.5 and 0.8), an effect display is performed. The areas A2 and A4 of the image Im2 are flashed at a constant timing. Thereby, it becomes easy for an observer (player) to visually recognize the change of the screen, and it is possible to further enhance the production effect than the highlight display.
　また、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、ハイライト部分が移動するような演出表示を行うことも可能である。例えば、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８が、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）の一つのＰＷＭ値が０．８、のこりのＰＷＭ値が０．５とし、一定時間経過するごとにＰＷＭ値が０．８の輝度調整用信号が順に切り替わるような輝度調整信号を受信したとする。なお、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ５）の次は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１）のＰＭＷ値が０．８に切り替わる。 Also, the LED control circuit 8 can perform an effect display such that the highlight portion moves. For example, the LED control circuit 8 determines that one PWM value of the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) is 0.8, the remaining PWM value is 0.5, and the PWM value is 0.8 each time a certain time elapses. Assume that a luminance adjustment signal is received such that the luminance adjustment signals are sequentially switched. After the luminance adjustment signal (Lm5), the PMW value of the luminance adjustment signal (Lm1) is switched to 0.8.
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、上述のような輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を受信することで、ＬＥＤブロック３２１から順に３２２、３２３、３２４、３２５を高輝度で発光させる。このようにＬＥＤコントロール回路８によって、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５が発光制御されることで、表示画像において、領域Ａ１が高輝度となった後、一定時間が経過するごとに、領域Ａ２、領域Ａ３、領域Ａ４、領域Ａ５の輝度が高くなる、すなわち、ハイライト表示部分が移動し、上述の演出表示よりもさらに高い視覚効果（演出効果）を得ることができる。なお、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ５）のＰＷＭ値が０．８になった後、一定時間が経過すると、輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ４、Ｌｍ３、Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ１の順にＰＷＭ値が０．８に変わる信号である場合、表示画像のハイライト表示部分が左右に往復する視覚効果（演出効果）を得ることが可能である。また、これら以外にも、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）によって、様々な演出効果を得ることができる。 The LED control circuit 8 receives the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) as described above, and causes the LEDs 322, 323, 324, and 325 to emit light with high luminance in order from the LED block 321. As described above, the LED blocks 321 to 325 are controlled to emit light by the LED control circuit 8, so that the area A 2, the area A 3, The brightness of the area A4 and the area A5 is increased, that is, the highlight display portion is moved, and a higher visual effect (effect effect) than the above-described effect display can be obtained. It should be noted that when a certain time elapses after the PWM value of the luminance adjustment signal (Lm5) has reached 0.8, the PWM value changes to 0.8 in the order of the luminance adjustment signals Lm4, Lm3, Lm2, and Lm1. In some cases, it is possible to obtain a visual effect (production effect) in which the highlight display portion of the display image reciprocates left and right. In addition to these, various effects can be obtained by the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5).
（第２の実施形態）
　本発明にかかるバックライトユニットの他の例について図面を参照して説明する。図５は本発明にかかるバックライトユニットの他の例を備えた液晶表示装置を示すブロック図であり、図６は図５に示すバックライトユニットに備えられる光源の概略回路図である。液晶表示装置Ｂは、光源３が異なる以外は図３に示す液晶表示装置Ａと同じ構成を有しており、実質上同じ部分には同じ符号を付すとともに、同じ部分の詳細な説明は省略する。 (Second Embodiment)
Another example of the backlight unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a liquid crystal display device provided with another example of a backlight unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a light source provided in the backlight unit shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device B has the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A shown in FIG. 3 except that the light source 3 is different. .
　図５及び図６に示すように、光源３は複数個（ここでは４個）のＬＥＤ３１を含むＬＥＤブロックを１０個備えている。光源３において、ＬＥＤブロックは、導光板２の左側（Ａ系統とする）のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５、右側（Ｂ系統とする）のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５に分かれている。 As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light source 3 includes ten LED blocks including a plurality (four in this case) of LEDs 31. In the light source 3, the LED blocks are divided into LED blocks 331 to 335 on the left side (referred to as A system) and LED blocks 331 to 335 on the right side (referred to as B system).
　図６に示すように、Ａ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５及びＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５のアノード側配線は共通である。また、Ａ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５とＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５のそれぞれのカソード側は共通のカソード側配線Ｋ１～Ｋ５に接続されている。詳しく説明すると、Ａ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１とＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１が共通のカソード側配線Ｋ１と接続されている。同様に、Ａ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３２～３３５とＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３２～３３５のそれぞれのカソード側はカソード側配線Ｋ２～Ｋ５と接続されている。アノード側配線ＡＮ及びカソード側配線Ｋ１～Ｋ５はＬＥＤコントロール回路８に接続されている。 As shown in FIG. 6, the anode side wirings of the A system LED blocks 331 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 331 to 335 are common. The cathode side of each of the A system LED blocks 331 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 331 to 335 is connected to a common cathode side wiring K1 to K5. More specifically, the A-system LED block 331 and the B-system LED block 331 are connected to a common cathode-side wiring K1. Similarly, the cathode side of each of the A system LED blocks 332 to 335 and the B system LED blocks 332 to 335 is connected to cathode side wirings K2 to K5. The anode side wiring AN and the cathode side wirings K1 to K5 are connected to the LED control circuit 8.
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８には、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）が入力されている。ＬＥＤコントロール回路８には、輝度が均一な表示画像を表示するとき、ＰＷＭ値が一定（例えば、０．５）の輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）が入力されている。このとき、Ａ系統及びＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５はそれぞれ同じ輝度で発光する。これにより、液晶表示装置Ｂでは、例えば、図４Ａに示すような、輝度ムラの少ない表示画像を表示することができる。 The LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). The LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) having a constant PWM value (for example, 0.5) when displaying a display image with uniform luminance. At this time, the LED blocks 331 to 335 of the A system and the B system each emit light with the same luminance. Thereby, in the liquid crystal display device B, for example, a display image with little luminance unevenness as shown in FIG. 4A can be displayed.
　次に、演出表示状態のときのバックライトユニットの動作及び液晶表示装置の表示画像について図面を参照して説明する。図７は演出表示状態のときの表示画像を示す図である。図７において、表示画像Ｉｍ３を左から領域Ｂ１～領域Ｂ１０として説明する。なお、領域Ｂ１～領域Ｂ５はＡ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５と対応しており、領域Ｂ６～領域Ｂ１０はＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５と対応している。 Next, the operation of the backlight unit in the effect display state and the display image of the liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a view showing a display image in the effect display state. In FIG. 7, the display image Im3 will be described from the left as a region B1 to a region B10. The regions B1 to B5 correspond to the A system LED blocks 331 to 335, and the regions B6 to B10 correspond to the B system LED blocks 331 to 335.
　液晶表示装置Ｂにおいて演出表示を行うとき、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいて、Ａ系統及びＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５のそれぞれに電流を供給する。例えば、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８が、輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ１に基づいて、Ａ系統及びＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３１の発光を制御する。なお、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８による各ＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５への電流の供給については上述しているのと同じであり省略する。また、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ２～Ｌｍ５に基づいて、Ａ系統及びＢ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３２～３３５のそれぞれの発光を制御する。 When performing effect display in the liquid crystal display device B, the LED control circuit 8 supplies current to each of the LED blocks 331 to 335 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). For example, the LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 331 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signal Lm1. The supply of current to the LED blocks 331 to 335 by the LED control circuit 8 is the same as described above, and will be omitted. The LED control circuit 8 controls the light emission of the LED blocks 332 to 335 of the A system and the B system based on the luminance adjustment signals Lm2 to Lm5.
　上述の例と同様、輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ４のＰＷＭ値（例えば、０．８）が輝度補正用信号Ｌｍ１、Ｌｍ３、Ｌｍ５のＰＷＭ値（例えば、０．５）よりも大きい場合、Ａ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３２、３３４、Ｂ系統のＬＥＤブロック３３２、３３４の発光輝度が高くなる。光源３がこのように発光することで、液晶表示装置Ｂで表示される表示画像Ｉｍ３は図７に示すような輝度となる。すなわち、領域Ｂ２、領域Ｂ４、領域Ｂ７、領域Ｂ９の輝度が他の領域に比べて高くなる。 Similarly to the above example, when the PWM values (for example, 0.8) of the luminance adjustment signals Lm2, Lm4 are larger than the PWM values (for example, 0.5) of the luminance correction signals Lm1, Lm3, Lm5, the A system The LED blocks 332 and 334, and the B system LED blocks 332 and 334 have higher emission luminance. When the light source 3 emits light in this way, the display image Im3 displayed on the liquid crystal display device B has luminance as shown in FIG. That is, the brightness of the region B2, the region B4, the region B7, and the region B9 is higher than that of other regions.
　このように、液晶表示装置Ｂでは、一部の領域の輝度を高く表示することで、演出性の高い表示画像を表示することが可能である。また、液晶表示装置Ａと同様に、一部のＬＥＤブロックの輝度を変更したり、輝度の高い領域を順に隣に移動させたりして演出性を高めることが可能である。輝度の高い領域を移動させる場合、Ａ系統に対応する領域Ｂ１～領域Ｂ５とＢ系統に対応する領域Ｂ６～領域Ｂ１０とが同じ演出表示を行うので、より高い演出性の演出表示を行うことができる。 As described above, in the liquid crystal display device B, it is possible to display a display image with high performance by displaying high luminance in a part of the region. Similarly to the liquid crystal display device A, it is possible to change the brightness of some of the LED blocks, or to move an area with high brightness next to each other in order, thereby improving performance. When moving a region with high brightness, the region B1 to the region B5 corresponding to the A system and the region B6 to the region B10 corresponding to the B system perform the same effect display, so that the effect display with higher performance can be performed. it can.
　さらに、Ａ領域のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５を左から右に、Ｂ領域のＬＥＤブロック３３１～３３５を右から左に配置し、ＬＥＤブロック３３１からＬＥＤブロック３３５に順に高輝度で発光するような輝度調整用信号が入力されることで、表示画像の両外側から中央に向かってハイライト部分が移動するような演出表示を行うことが可能である。なお、本実施形態において、光源３をＡ系統及びＢ系統の２系統を備えているものを挙げているが、これに限定されるものではなく、さらに多くの系統を備えていてもよい。 In addition, the LED blocks 331 to 335 in the A area are arranged from left to right, the LED blocks 331 to 335 in the B area are arranged from right to left, and brightness adjustment is performed so that the LED block 331 to the LED block 335 emit light with high luminance in order. By inputting the operation signal, it is possible to perform an effect display in which the highlight portion moves from the outer side of the display image toward the center. In the present embodiment, the light source 3 is provided with two systems of the A system and the B system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and more systems may be provided.
（第３の実施形態）
　液晶表示装置のさらに他の例について図面を参照して説明する。図８は液晶表示装置のさらに他の例のブロック図であり、図９は図８に示す液晶表示装置での表示画像を示す図である。液晶表示装置Ｃは遊技装置の表示部であり、図９に示すように、３桁のルーレットを表示するものである。なお、図９に示す状態は、左右両側の表示部分ＲＬ、ＲＲの数字が“９”になっており、中央の表示部分ＲＣの数字が“９”になれば大当たりになる、いわゆる、リーチ状態である。なお、図８に示す液晶表示装置Ｃは、液晶表示装置Ａと実質上、同じ構成を有している。また、左の表示部分ＲＬは領域Ｃ２に、右の表示部分ＲＲは領域Ｃ４に、中央の表示部分ＲＣは領域Ｃ３に表示されるものとする。 (Third embodiment)
Still another example of the liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of still another example of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display image on the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device C is a display unit of the gaming device, and displays a three-digit roulette as shown in FIG. The state shown in FIG. 9 is a so-called reach state in which the left and right display portions RL and RR have a number “9” and the center display portion RC has a number “9”. It is. The liquid crystal display device C shown in FIG. 8 has substantially the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A. Further, the left display portion RL is displayed in the region C2, the right display portion RR is displayed in the region C4, and the center display portion RC is displayed in the region C3.
　液晶表示装置Ｃにおいて、均一な画像表示を行う場合は液晶表示装置Ａと同じである。すなわち、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、同じＰＷＭ値の輝度調整用回路（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を受け取り、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５が同じ輝度となるように発光させる。このとき、画像表示領域での表示画像に関係なく、バックライトユニット１からは、均一な輝度分布の面状光が出射される。 The liquid crystal display device C is the same as the liquid crystal display device A when performing uniform image display. That is, the LED control circuit 8 receives luminance adjustment circuits (Lm1 to Lm5) having the same PWM value, and causes the LED blocks 321 to 325 to emit light so as to have the same luminance. At this time, planar light having a uniform luminance distribution is emitted from the backlight unit 1 regardless of the display image in the image display area.
　また、液晶表示装置Ｃにおいて、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）とＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）とを同期させる信号処理部６３を備えている。 Further, the liquid crystal display device C includes a signal processing unit 63 that synchronizes the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) and the LCD data signals (LCs).
　画像表示装置Ｃで演出表示を行う場合、例えば、液晶パネルコントローラ６２の処理時間と、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７（ＬＥＤコントロール回路８）の動作時間にずれが生じる場合がある。均一な画像の表示を行う場合は、バックライトユニット１から均一な輝度分布の面状光が出射されているので、液晶パネルコントローラ６２とＬＥＤ駆動回路７の動作時間がずれても、表示画像（例えば、図４Ａに示す表示画像Ｉｍ１）に大きな変化は出にくい。 When effect display is performed on the image display device C, for example, there may be a difference between the processing time of the liquid crystal panel controller 62 and the operating time of the LED drive circuit 7 (LED control circuit 8). When displaying a uniform image, planar light having a uniform luminance distribution is emitted from the backlight unit 1, so that even if the operation time of the liquid crystal panel controller 62 and the LED drive circuit 7 is shifted, the display image ( For example, a large change is unlikely to appear in the display image Im1) shown in FIG. 4A.
　例えば、液晶表示装置Ｃでは、遊技装置がリーチ状態になったとき、左右両側の表示部分ＲＲ、ＲＬを暗転し、中央の表示部分ＲＣを明るくした表示画像Ｉｍ４（図９参照）を表示し、演出効果を高める。この場合、左右両側の表示部分ＲＬ、ＲＲ内の数字が停止するのと、暗転とがずれると演出効果が低下してしまうことがある。そこで、信号処理部６３で、ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）と輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を、液晶パネルコントローラ６２とＬＥＤ駆動回路７の動作時間の差を考慮して同期させることで、演出表示画像と面状光とを正確に同期させている。 For example, in the liquid crystal display device C, when the gaming device is in a reach state, a display image Im4 (see FIG. 9) is displayed in which the display portions RR and RL on both the left and right sides are darkened and the center display portion RC is brightened. Increase the production effect. In this case, if the numbers in the left and right display portions RL and RR stop and the dark shift shifts, the effect may be reduced. Therefore, the signal processing unit 63 synchronizes the LCD data signals (LCs) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) in consideration of the difference in operation time between the liquid crystal panel controller 62 and the LED drive circuit 7, thereby producing the effect. The display image and the planar light are accurately synchronized.
　演出表示画像Ｉｍ４のように、左右両側の表示部分ＲＬ、ＲＲでは数字が停止し、中央の表示部分ＲＣをハイライト表示する場合、演出表示画像Ｉｍ４の中央の領域Ｃ３の輝度を高く、残りの領域Ｃ１、Ｃ２、Ｃ４、Ｃ５の輝度を低くする。このとき、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８では、ＰＷＭ値が０．８の輝度調整用信号Ｌｍ３と、ＰＷＭ値が０．４の輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１、Ｌｍ２、Ｌｍ４、Ｌｍ５）とが受信される。 As in the effect display image Im4, when the left and right display parts RL and RR stop displaying numbers and the center display part RC is highlighted, the brightness of the center area C3 of the effect display image Im4 is increased, The brightness of the areas C1, C2, C4, and C5 is lowered. At this time, the LED control circuit 8 receives the luminance adjustment signal Lm3 having a PWM value of 0.8 and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1, Lm2, Lm4, Lm5) having a PWM value of 0.4.
　ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいて、対応するＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光制御を行う。このとき、ＬＥＤブロック３２３はＰＷＭ値０．８で制御されるので、輝度が均一な画像を表示しているときよりも高い輝度で発光する。逆に、ＬＥＤブロック３２１、３２２、３２４、３２５はＰＷＭ値０．４で制御されるので、上述のような均一な輝度の画像表示のときに比べて発光輝度が低下する。ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５がこのような輝度で発光することで、図９に示すように、表示画像Ｉｍ４の左右中央部分である領域Ｃ３の輝度が高く、残りの領域Ｃ１、領域Ｃ２、領域Ｃ４、領域Ｃ５の輝度が低くなる。 The LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the corresponding LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5). At this time, since the LED block 323 is controlled with a PWM value of 0.8, the LED block 323 emits light with higher brightness than when an image with uniform brightness is displayed. On the contrary, since the LED blocks 321, 322, 324, and 325 are controlled with a PWM value of 0.4, the light emission luminance is reduced as compared with the case of displaying an image with uniform luminance as described above. Since the LED blocks 321 to 325 emit light with such luminance, as shown in FIG. 9, the luminance of the region C3 which is the left and right central portion of the display image Im4 is high, and the remaining regions C1, C2, C4, The brightness of the area C5 is lowered.
　ここで、ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）と輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）とが信号処理部６３で同期されているので、図９の左右の表示部分ＲＬ、ＲＲの数字の停止とともに領域Ｃ１、Ｃ２、Ｃ４、Ｃ５を暗転させ、数字の表示が切り替わっている中央の表示部分ＲＣを含む領域Ｃ３を明るく表示する、ハイライト表示になる。このように、ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）と輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を正確に同期させることで、演出表示画像Ｉｍ４の各領域の輝度の切り替わりが早かったり、遅かったりして、演出効果が低くなるのを抑制することが可能である。なお、ハイライト表示に限定されるものではなく、フラッシュやハイライトが移動する場合等においても、演出表示画像にあわせて面状光の輝度を調整するので、演出効果が低下するのを抑制することが可能である。 Here, since the LCD data signals (LCs) and the brightness adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are synchronized by the signal processing unit 63, the area C1, the number of the left and right display parts RL and RR in FIG. C2, C4, and C5 are darkened, and a highlight display is performed in which the region C3 including the central display portion RC where the display of numbers is switched is displayed brightly. In this way, by accurately synchronizing the LCD data signals (LCs) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5), the luminance of each region of the effect display image Im4 can be switched quickly or late, resulting in a rendering effect. Can be suppressed. It is not limited to highlight display, and even when the flash or highlight moves, the brightness of the planar light is adjusted according to the effect display image, so that the effect of the effect is prevented from being lowered. It is possible.
　また、液晶表示装置Ｃに入力される前に、ＬＣＤデータ信号（ＬＣｓ）と輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）とが同期されている場合であっても、信号処理部６３で再度同期しなおすことで、液晶表示装置Ｃの個体のばらつきによる同期のずれを修正することが可能であり、それだけ、演出効果を確実なものとすることが可能である。 Further, even when the LCD data signal (LCs) and the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) are synchronized before being input to the liquid crystal display device C, the signal processing unit 63 resynchronizes them again. Thus, it is possible to correct the synchronization shift due to the individual variation of the liquid crystal display device C, and it is possible to secure the effect as much.
（第４の実施形態）
　本発明にかかるバックライトユニットを備えた液晶表示装置のさらに他の例について図面を参照して説明する。図１０は液晶表示装置のさらに他の例のブロック図である。図１０に示す液晶表示装置Ｄは、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７の内部にＰＷＭ回路８１（電流値決定回路）を備えている以外は、図３に示す液晶表示装置Ａと同じ構成を有しており、実質上同じ部分には同じ符号を付すとともに、実質上同じ部分の詳細な説明は省略する。 (Fourth embodiment)
Still another example of the liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of still another example of the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device D shown in FIG. 10 has the same configuration as the liquid crystal display device A shown in FIG. 3 except that the LED drive circuit 7 includes a PWM circuit 81 (current value determination circuit). The substantially same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of substantially the same parts is omitted.
　液晶表示装置Ｄは、ＬＥＤ駆動回路７の内部にＰＷＭ回路８１を備えている。受信部６１には、外部より輝度調整データＬｄ１～Ｌｄ５が入力される。輝度調整データＬｄ１～Ｌｄ５は、ＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の輝度を示すデータであり、例えば、１２ビットのデジタルデータである。輝度調整データＬｄ１～Ｌｄ５はＬＥＤ駆動回路７の内部に備えられたＰＷＭ回路８１に送られる。 The liquid crystal display device D includes a PWM circuit 81 inside the LED drive circuit 7. The receiver 61 receives luminance adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 from the outside. The brightness adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 are data indicating the brightness of the LED blocks 321 to 325, and are, for example, 12-bit digital data. The brightness adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5 are sent to a PWM circuit 81 provided in the LED drive circuit 7.
　ＰＷＭ回路８１は、輝度調整データＬｄ１～Ｌｄ５に基づいて、輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）を生成し、ＬＥＤコントロール回路８に送出する。ＬＥＤコントロール回路８は輝度調整用信号（Ｌｍ１～Ｌｍ５）に基づいてＬＥＤブロック３２１～３２５の発光制御を行う。 The PWM circuit 81 generates luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5) based on the luminance adjustment data Ld1 to Ld5, and sends them to the LED control circuit 8. The LED control circuit 8 performs light emission control of the LED blocks 321 to 325 based on the luminance adjustment signals (Lm1 to Lm5).
　上述の各実施形態では、バックライトユニット１のＬＥＤ駆動回路７はＬＥＤブロックごとの輝度を調整するための輝度調整用信号或いは輝度調整データを外部から受信し、各ＬＥＤブロックの発光制御を行っている。これにより、本発明にかかるバックライトユニットは、内部でＰＷＭ信号を生成することができるので、ＰＷＭ制御を行うための回路を持たない電子機器の表示装置のバックライトユニットとしても採用することが可能である。 In each of the above-described embodiments, the LED drive circuit 7 of the backlight unit 1 receives a luminance adjustment signal or luminance adjustment data for adjusting the luminance of each LED block from the outside, and performs light emission control of each LED block. Yes. As a result, the backlight unit according to the present invention can generate a PWM signal internally, so that it can also be employed as a backlight unit of a display device of an electronic device that does not have a circuit for performing PWM control. It is.
　上述の各実施形態において、液晶表示装置Ａ～Ｄは遊戯装置の表示部として用いられるものとして説明しているが、それに限定されるものではなく、情報家電、ノートＰＣ、携帯電話等の電子機器の表示部としても用いることができる。その場合、演出表示状態は、例えば、誤った入力をしたときや、何らかの不具合が発生したときに使用者に注意を喚起するための注意表示状態として用いることも可能である。 In each of the above-described embodiments, the liquid crystal display devices A to D are described as being used as display units of the game device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and electronic devices such as information home appliances, notebook PCs, and mobile phones are used. It can also be used as a display unit. In that case, for example, the effect display state can be used as a caution display state for alerting the user when an incorrect input is made or when some trouble occurs.
　また、液晶表示装置Ａ、Ｂ、Ｄでは、演出表示状態で、表示画像の所定の領域に対応するＬＥＤブロックの輝度を高めるものとして説明しているが、表示画像の所定の領域に対応するＬＥＤブロックの輝度を低くする制御を行うようにしてもよい。このように表示することで、相対的な輝度差によって、ハイライト表示、フラッシュ表示等十分な演出表示が可能であるとともに、ＬＥＤブロックの輝度を低下させるので消費電力を低減することが可能である。 Further, in the liquid crystal display devices A, B, and D, it is described that the brightness of the LED block corresponding to the predetermined area of the display image is increased in the effect display state, but the LED corresponding to the predetermined area of the display image is displayed. You may make it perform control which makes the brightness | luminance of a block low. By displaying in this way, sufficient effect display such as highlight display and flash display is possible due to the relative brightness difference, and the brightness of the LED block is reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced. .
　また、上述の実施形態では、本発明のバックライトユニットを用いる画像表示装置として液晶表示装置として説明しているが、これに限定されるものではなく、本発明にかかるバックライトユニットは透過型の画像表示装置に広く採用することが可能である。 In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal display device is described as an image display device using the backlight unit of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the backlight unit according to the present invention is a transmissive type. It can be widely used in image display devices.
　以上、本発明の実施形態について説明したが、本発明はこの内容に限定されるものではない。また本発明の実施形態は、発明の趣旨を逸脱しない限り、種々の改変を加えることが可能である。 As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this content. The embodiments of the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.
　本発明にかかるバックライトユニット及び液晶表示装置は、情報家電、ノートＰＣ、携帯電話、遊戯装置等の電子機器の表示部として利用することが可能である。 The backlight unit and the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be used as a display unit of an electronic device such as an information appliance, a notebook PC, a mobile phone, or a game device.
１　バックライトユニット
２　導光板
２１　出光面
２２　入光面
３　光源ユニット
３０　基板
３１　ＬＥＤ
３２１～３２５　ＬＥＤブロック
３３１～３３５　ＬＥＤブロック
４　光学シート群
５　液晶パネルユニット
６１　受信部
６２　映像信号処理部
６３　液晶パネルコントローラ
７　ＬＥＤ駆動回路
８　ＬＥＤコントロール回路
８１　ＰＷＭ回路 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Backlight unit 2 Light guide plate 21 Light exit surface 22 Light entrance surface 3 Light source unit 30 Board | substrate 31 LED
321 to 325 LED block 331 to 335 LED block 4 optical sheet group 5 liquid crystal panel unit 61 receiving unit 62 video signal processing unit 63 liquid crystal panel controller 7 LED drive circuit 8 LED control circuit 81 PWM circuit

Claims (8)

  1. 　複数のＬＥＤを備え、一定数のＬＥＤごとに複数のＬＥＤブロックに分けられている光源ユニットと、
    　前記光源ユニットからの光を受光し面状光を出射する導光板と、
    　前記複数のＬＥＤブロックのそれぞれに対応したＬＥＤの輝度を調整するための輝度調整用信号を受信し、前記複数のＬＥＤブロックを個別に発光制御するＬＥＤコントロール手段とを有していることを特徴とするバックライトユニット。     A light source unit that includes a plurality of LEDs and is divided into a plurality of LED blocks for a certain number of LEDs;
    A light guide plate that receives light from the light source unit and emits planar light;
    LED control means for receiving a brightness adjustment signal for adjusting the brightness of the LED corresponding to each of the plurality of LED blocks, and individually controlling the light emission of the plurality of LED blocks. Backlight unit to be used.
  2. 　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段は、前記ＬＥＤブロックをＰＷＭ制御にて発光制御している請求項１に記載のバックライトユニット。 The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the LED control means controls the light emission of the LED block by PWM control.
  3. 　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段に供給される輝度調整用信号が、ＰＷＭ制御に用いられるＰＷＭ信号である請求項２に記載のバックライトユニット。 The backlight unit according to claim 2, wherein the luminance adjustment signal supplied to the LED control means is a PWM signal used for PWM control.
  4. 　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段は、外部から輝度調整用信号を受信する請求項３に記載のバックライトユニット。 4. The backlight unit according to claim 3, wherein the LED control means receives a brightness adjustment signal from the outside.
  5. 　前記ＬＥＤブロックの輝度の情報に基づいて輝度調整用信号を生成し、前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段に送るＰＷＭ回路を備えている請求項３に記載のバックライトユニット。 The backlight unit according to claim 3, further comprising a PWM circuit that generates a luminance adjustment signal based on luminance information of the LED block and sends the signal to the LED control means.
  6. 　前記光源ユニットは所定数のＬＥＤブロックごとに系統分けされており、
    　前記ＬＥＤコントロール手段が各系統の対応するＬＥＤブロックを同じ輝度で発光制御する請求項１から請求項５のいずれかに記載のバックライトユニット。     The light source unit is systematically divided into a predetermined number of LED blocks,
    The backlight unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the LED control unit controls light emission of the corresponding LED blocks of each system with the same luminance.
  7. 　請求項１から請求項６のいずれかに記載のバックライトユニットと、
    　前記バックライトユニットの正面に配置された液晶パネルユニットとを含むことを特徴とする液晶表示装置。     The backlight unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
    And a liquid crystal panel unit disposed in front of the backlight unit.
  8. 　入力される映像信号に基づいて液晶パネルユニットを駆動するための液晶駆動信号と、前記輝度調整用信号と同期させる信号処理手段を備えている請求項７に記載の液晶表示装置。 The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, further comprising: a liquid crystal driving signal for driving the liquid crystal panel unit based on the input video signal, and signal processing means for synchronizing with the luminance adjustment signal.
PCT/JP2012/059782 2011-04-15 2012-04-10 Backlight unit, and liquid crystal display device WO2012141172A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011-091274 2011-04-15
JP2011091274 2011-04-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012141172A1 true WO2012141172A1 (en) 2012-10-18

Family

ID=47009345

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2012/059782 WO2012141172A1 (en) 2011-04-15 2012-04-10 Backlight unit, and liquid crystal display device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2012141172A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104266113A (en) * 2014-07-30 2015-01-07 友达光电股份有限公司 Backlight module

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007293339A (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-11-08 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd Backlight unit for liquid crystal display device
JP2011054964A (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-17 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device and method for led drive, system of led drive using the same, and liquid crystal display device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007293339A (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-11-08 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd Backlight unit for liquid crystal display device
JP2011054964A (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-17 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device and method for led drive, system of led drive using the same, and liquid crystal display device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104266113A (en) * 2014-07-30 2015-01-07 友达光电股份有限公司 Backlight module

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5368465B2 (en) Power control method for light emitting device for image display, light emitting device for image display, display device, and television receiver
KR101524308B1 (en) Backlight apparatus, backlight controlling method and liquid crystal display apparatus
TWI328132B (en)
JP2011023347A (en) Display and television
WO2006040937A1 (en) Light source unit for backlight, backlight device for liquid crystal display, and transmissive liquid crystal display device
JP2004191490A (en) Liquid crystal display device
US20090109248A1 (en) Display Apparatus Having a Multiplicity of Pixels and Method for Displaying Images
KR20090010107A (en) Display device with a backlight
KR101015299B1 (en) Liquid crystal display device having good image quality
JP2008198430A (en) Backlight device and display device using it
JPH08211361A (en) Transmission type display device
KR101041354B1 (en) Lcd panel with scanning backlight
JP2009224030A (en) Led backlight unit, and liquid crystal display
TWI420468B (en) Local dimming control apparatus and local dimming control method
JP2009031585A (en) Liquid crystal display device
WO2007083407A1 (en) Light source unit, lighting apparatus using the light source unit, and display using the lighting apparatus
KR20160144730A (en) Display panel and display apparatus
RU2447469C2 (en) Liquid crystal display
JP2013200518A (en) Liquid crystal display device
WO2012141172A1 (en) Backlight unit, and liquid crystal display device
JP2013004197A (en) Backlight device
JP2011108631A (en) Backlight unit and image forming apparatus having the same
US20170168210A1 (en) Backlight module, display module, and display device
CN113053323A (en) Display device and color coordinate adjusting method thereof
KR20090026947A (en) Liquid crystal display

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 12770636

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 12770636

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP