WO2014203564A1 - Multi-display system, driver device, and method for powering multi-panel display device - Google Patents

Multi-display system, driver device, and method for powering multi-panel display device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2014203564A1
WO2014203564A1 PCT/JP2014/054956 JP2014054956W WO2014203564A1 WO 2014203564 A1 WO2014203564 A1 WO 2014203564A1 JP 2014054956 W JP2014054956 W JP 2014054956W WO 2014203564 A1 WO2014203564 A1 WO 2014203564A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
display
panel
image
display panels
signal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2014/054956
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
弘幸 森脇
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 WO2014203564A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014203564A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G09F19/227—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated on windows
    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G09F19/226—External wall display means; Facade advertising means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/35—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2300/00—Aspects of the constitution of display devices
    • G09G2300/04—Structural and physical details of display devices
    • G09G2300/0439—Pixel structures
    • G09G2300/0456—Pixel structures with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2380/00—Specific applications
    • G09G2380/14—Electronic books and readers
    • 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
    • G09G3/3433—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 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices
    • G09G3/344—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 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices
    • 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
    • G09G3/36—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 using liquid crystals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multi-display system, and also relates to a driver device used in the multi-display system and a driving method of the multi-panel display device.
  • Patent Document 1 discloses that a display device in which a plurality of electronic papers are arranged in a matrix is used for digital signage.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a multi-display system with low cost or low power consumption. It is another object of the present invention to provide a driver device and a driving method for a multi-panel display device that can be used in such a multi-display system.
  • a multi-display system includes a multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels, a switching circuit having a plurality of switches, and a display signal driver for supplying a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels.
  • the switching signal for sequentially switching the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels is supplied to the display signal driver.
  • a controller for supplying a circuit, and each of the plurality of display panels includes a time required for writing one image to an arbitrary display panel of the plurality of display panels, and a total number of the plurality of display panels. The image can be displayed over a period represented by the product of.
  • Each of the plurality of display panels may include a plurality of pixel TFTs (thin film transistors) each having an oxide semiconductor layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer may include an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor. .
  • the In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor may include a crystalline portion.
  • the switching circuit is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  • the display signal driver is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  • the controller is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  • each of the plurality of display panels has a memory property.
  • each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a plurality of memory elements integrally formed on the substrate.
  • each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a scanning signal driver integrally formed on the substrate.
  • the multi-display system further includes at least a receiving circuit configured to receive an instruction to change an image displayed on the plurality of display panels.
  • a driver device supplies a display signal driver that supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels in a multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels, and supplies an image signal to the display signal driver. And a controller that supplies a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels to a switching circuit having a plurality of switches.
  • a connector configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device, the connector having a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to output terminals of the display signal driver.
  • a driver device is configured to acquire information on the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels and sequentially output input video signals corresponding to the plurality of display panels to the controller.
  • the processing unit is further provided.
  • a driver device further includes the switching circuit.
  • a driver device supplies power required for writing an image to each of the plurality of display panels to the multi-panel display device.
  • a driving method of a multi-panel display device is a driving method of a multi-panel display device having N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) display panels.
  • Step (a) in which images are sequentially written for each frame period one by one, and each of the N display panels on which the images have been written are subjected to an image over a predetermined period of 1 frame period ⁇ N or more.
  • the steps (a) and (b) are further performed.
  • the predetermined period is 1 second or longer.
  • a multi-display system with lower cost or lower power consumption than the conventional one is provided.
  • a driver device and a driving method of a multi-panel display device that can be suitably used in a multi-display system are provided.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • (A)-(e) is a figure which shows one of the some display panels 10.
  • FIG. It is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100B according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of 1 pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 10s in which each pixel Pix has SRAM12.
  • It is a schematic diagram of multi-display system 100D according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the application example of the multi-display system by embodiment of this invention.
  • (A) And (b) is a figure which shows typically the cross section of display panel 10Da and display panel 10Db by which color filter CF is arrange
  • (A) And (b) is typical sectional drawing explaining the switching between a transparent state and a scattering state in the liquid crystal display panel of PDLC mode.
  • (A) And (b) is typical sectional drawing explaining the switching between a transparent state and a reflective state in a flake type display panel.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a multi-display system 100A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • components having substantially the same function are denoted by common reference numerals, and description thereof may be omitted.
  • the multi-display system 100A includes a multi-panel display device 150A having a plurality of display panels 10, a switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A, a display signal driver 40s, and a controller 50.
  • the display signal driver 40 s supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the controller 50 supplies an image signal to the display signal driver 40s, and a switching signal for sequentially switching the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10. Is supplied to the switching circuit 30A.
  • the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10 is sequentially switched, and the display signal from the display signal driver 40s is displayed in a plurality of ways. Sequentially supplied to each of the panels 10. As a result, images are sequentially written on each of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the drive circuit such as the display signal driver is shared among the plurality of display panels. Therefore, the number of the drive circuits accompanying the increase in the number of display panels. The increase of is suppressed.
  • images are sequentially written on the plurality of display panels 10 one by one.
  • the display panel 10 on which the image is first written continues to display the image until the image is written on the last display panel 10. Therefore, one large image is displayed by the plurality of images displayed on the plurality of display panels 10 when the image is written on the last display panel 10.
  • the timing for writing the next image on the plurality of display panels 10 depends on the time during which each of the plurality of display panels 10 continues to display an image (sometimes referred to as “display maintenance time”).
  • the “display maintenance time” refers to maintaining the state of displaying the image without writing the image again (sometimes referred to as “refresh”) after the image is written.
  • the time required to write one large image on the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A is the time required to write an image corresponding to each display panel 10 on each of the plurality of display panels 10. And the total number of display panels 10 (denoted by a natural number “N” of 2 or more).
  • N the total number of display panels 10
  • the time required to write an image on one display panel 10 of the plurality of display panels 10 is referred to as “one frame period (1F period)”.
  • the time required to write one large image on the multi-panel display device 150A is 1 frame period ⁇ N (may be expressed as “period NF”) (“ ⁇ ” represents multiplication). ).
  • each display panel 10 when an operation of sequentially writing images to a plurality of display panels 10 is performed continuously (after sequentially writing images to the first to Nth display panels, When the operation of sequentially writing images to the 1st to Nth display panels is repeated), the start of image writing to a certain display panel 10 and the start of image writing to the next display panel 10 It is defined as the difference from the time to be.
  • each display panel 10 preferably has a memory property. If each display panel 10 has a memory property, for example, after writing an image to the multi-panel display device 150A in time NF, the image writing operation to the multi-panel display device 150A is suspended and the image is changed.
  • a driving method of performing an image writing operation on the multi-panel display device 150A when a need arises can be employed.
  • the suspension period is set as appropriate, and the longer the suspension period, the greater the effect of reducing power consumption. Since the pause period cannot be set longer than the display maintenance period of the display panel 10, it is preferable that the display panel 10 has a memory property.
  • the display panel 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A preferably has a memory property. However, if it has a display maintenance period longer than the period NF, at least the drive circuit is shared. Advantages of doing so can be obtained, and the power consumption can be reduced to approximately 1 / N compared to the case where each display panel 10 is driven in the 1F period (1 / FHz).
  • the “horizontal scanning period” and the “vertical scanning period” are defined as follows.
  • the “horizontal scanning period” means a difference (period) between a time when a certain scanning line is selected and a time when the next scanning line is selected.
  • the “vertical scanning period” means the product of the total number of scanning lines included in the display panel and the horizontal scanning period.
  • the term “vertical scanning period” generally used for a liquid crystal display panel often means a period from when a scanning line is selected until the next scanning line is selected, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a period from when a certain scanning line of a certain display panel 10 is selected until the next scanning line is selected includes a pause period, and thus is defined as described above.
  • the “one frame period (1F period)” that is a time necessary for writing an image on each display panel 10 includes at least one vertical scanning period, but may include two or more vertical scanning periods.
  • a driving method for writing the same image twice in succession is considered in consideration of response characteristics peculiar to the liquid crystal.
  • the same image is displayed over two consecutive vertical scanning periods (for example, about 2 ⁇ 1/60 seconds) in each liquid crystal display panel.
  • a driving method in which a pause period (for example, about 1 second) is provided after the writing. Details of the operation of the multi-display system 100A when the 1F period includes one vertical scanning period and a pause period is provided will be described later.
  • the multi-display system 100A includes a multi-panel display device 150A and a common module portion 250A.
  • the configuration of the multi-panel display device 150A and the configuration of the common module portion 250A will be described in order.
  • the multi-panel display device 150 ⁇ / b> A has a plurality of display panels 10.
  • the 13 display panels are arranged in 4 rows of 4, 3, 3, and 3.
  • the center of the display panel is a half pitch left and right between two adjacent rows. It is shifted one by one.
  • N display panels 10D 1, 10D 2 having a multi-panel display device 150A, the ... and 10D N, respectively, the first display panel 10D 1, the second display panel 10D 2, ... and the N display panel 10D Sometimes called N.
  • the number and arrangement of the display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A are not limited to this example.
  • Display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, each of ... and 10D N is a display panel that can display an image over a period NF. That is, each of the display sustain period of the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and 10D N is longer than the period NF.
  • a TFF liquid crystal display panel in which an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is used for the pixel TFT is illustrated.
  • an oxide semiconductor such as an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor as a TFT channel (active layer)
  • the image writing frequency (driving frequency) in each display panel 10 can be reduced.
  • each display panel 10 it is possible to cause each display panel 10 to perform so-called low frequency driving, in which an image is written at a frequency of 1 to several (Hz).
  • low frequency driving in which an image is written at a frequency of 1 to several (Hz).
  • the detailed configuration of the display panel 10 used in the multi-panel display device 150A and other specific examples will be described later.
  • the common module portion 250A has a circuit for supplying various signals such as display signals to each of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • a controller 50, a display signal driver 40s, and a switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A are arranged in the common module portion 250A.
  • the common module portion 250A may include a scanning signal driver 40g, a processing unit 60, a storage device 70, an interface 80, and the like.
  • the common module portion 250 ⁇ / b> A is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150 ⁇ / b> A.
  • the common module portion 250A can be configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150A.
  • the switching circuit 30 ⁇ / b> A has a plurality of switches 32 ⁇ / b> A and forms an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40 s and one of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which the second display panel 10D 2 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and the output terminal of the scanning signal driver 40g.
  • FIG. 1 shows one switch connected to each of the display signal driver 40s and the scanning signal driver 40g.
  • the display signal driver 40s includes at least one switch. The same number of switches as the number of data signal lines included in each of the plurality of display panels 10 are connected.
  • Each of the plurality of switches 32A includes a transistor, for example, and is configured as an electrically controllable switch.
  • Each of the plurality of switches 32A is connected to which display panel 10 and the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s among the plurality of display panels 10 according to a switching signal supplied from the controller 50 described later. Switch. Therefore, in the multi-display system 100A, image writing is not performed on all of the plurality of display panels 10 at the same time, and image writing is performed for each display panel 10.
  • the controller 50 supplies a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10 to the switching circuit 30A.
  • This switching signal is supplied to the switching circuit 30A so as to be consistent with the supply of the display signal from the display signal driver 40s described later.
  • the controller 50 receives an input video signal and generates an image signal based on the received input video signal.
  • the input video signal is a signal generated from image data stored in the storage device 70, for example.
  • the multi-display system 100A includes a storage device 70 disposed in the common module portion 250A, and a processing unit 60 including a CPU, a video memory (VRAM), a graphic controller, and the like.
  • the processing unit 60 generates an input video signal based on the image data stored in the storage device 70, and the generated input video signal is supplied to the controller 50.
  • the storage device 70 various known storage devices can be used. For example, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, and various known optical disk drive devices can be used.
  • the storage device 70 may be a storage device configured to be detachable from the common module portion 250A.
  • the common module portion 250 ⁇ / b> A may have an interface 80.
  • the interface 80 includes, for example, at least a receiving circuit configured to receive an instruction to change an image displayed on the plurality of display panels 10 (sometimes referred to as an “image change instruction”).
  • the transmission method of the image change command to the multi-display system 100A may be either wired (for example, USB, wired LAN, etc.) or wireless (for example, infrared, wireless LAN, etc.).
  • the image change command may be transmitted via a so-called cloud.
  • the image signal generated by the controller 50 is supplied to the display signal driver 40s.
  • the controller 50 supplies a data start pulse signal, a data clock signal, a latch strobe signal, a signal for controlling the polarity of the data signal, and the like to the display signal driver 40s.
  • the display signal driver 40 s supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels 10. More specifically, the display signal driver 40 s generates a display signal (gradation signal) corresponding to the display panel (here, a liquid crystal display panel) 10 based on the image signal supplied from the controller 50, and displays the display panel 10. (The display panel is electrically connected to the display signal driver 40s via the switching circuit 30A, and here is supplied to the data signal lines of the second display panel 10D 2 ). The display signal driver 40s also supplies a common voltage Vcom to each display panel.
  • a display signal luminance signal
  • the scanning signal driver 40g generates a scanning signal based on signals (for example, a gate start pulse signal, a gate clock signal, and a scanning signal driver output control signal) supplied from the controller 50, and scan lines (gate bus lines). To supply. A display signal voltage is applied to each pixel (liquid crystal capacitor and auxiliary capacitor) connected via a TFT to the scanning line selected by the scanning signal.
  • the controller 50 prior to the writing of the image of the first display panel 10D 1, the output terminal of the display signal driver 40 s (scanning signal in this case an output terminal of the driver 40g also) and supplied to the circuit 30A switches the switching signal for electrically connecting a first display panel 10D.
  • Switching circuit 30A is by switching the connection destination of the plurality of switches 32A, the electrical connection between the output terminal and the first display panel 10D 1 of the display signal driver 40s is formed.
  • the controller 50 is supplied to the first display panel 10D 1 (sometimes referred to as an image block.) Image to be displayed on the display signal driver 40s image signals corresponding to.
  • the image block to be displayed on the first display panel 10D 1 is obtained by dividing one image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150A based on the arrangement and number of the plurality of display panels 10 in the multi-panel display device 150A. when one of a plurality of image blocks, an image block corresponding to the first position of the display panel 10D 1 in the multi-panel display device 150A.
  • Display signal driver 40s which has received the image signal, supplies a display signal to the first display panel 10D 1.
  • the scanning lines of the first display panel 10D 1 are sequentially selected, so that the pixel TFTs associated with the respective scanning lines are sequentially turned on, and an image (first image) is displayed on the first display panel 10D 1.
  • Block) is written.
  • the controller 50 supplies a switching signal to the switching circuit 30A, thereby, the connection destination of the plurality of switches 32A is switched to the second display panel 10D 2 (see FIG. 1). That is, the electrical connection between the output terminal and the first display panel 10D 1 of the display signal driver 40s is released, electrical between the output terminal and the second display panel 10D 2 of the display signal driver 40s Connection is established.
  • the controller 50 supplies an image signal corresponding to the image block to be displayed on the second display panel 10D 2 (2-th image blocks) to the display signal driver 40 s.
  • Display signal driver 40s which has received the image signal, supplies a display signal to the second display panel 10D 2.
  • the image (the second image block) is written to the second display panel 10D 2.
  • the 1F period may be considered to be approximately (1/60) second here.
  • the controller 50 the image signal corresponding to the image block to be displayed on the third display panel 10D 3 (3-th image blocks) are supplied to the display signal driver 40 s.
  • the switching signal and the display signal from the controller 50 are supplied in synchronization, whereby the connection destinations of the plurality of switches 32A are sequentially switched and the display panels 10D 1 , 10D 2 each of ...
  • display signal corresponding to an image to be displayed is sequentially supplied. That is, each of the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and 10D N, 1-th image blocks, the second image block, the ... and N-th image blocks are sequentially written. As described above, in the multi-panel display device 150A, images are sequentially written on the first to Nth display panels one by one every 1F period.
  • the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and each of the display sustain period of 10D N is approximately 1 second (driving frequency: 1 Hz).
  • the period NF is 13 ⁇ (1/60) seconds. That is, the display panel 10D in which the image is written 1, 10D 2, each of ... and 10D N, since the period NF or more predetermined period (here, approximately one second) continues to display the image over a multi-panel display device 150A One large image can be displayed.
  • the first image block is written on the first display panel 10D 1 in the first (1/60) second
  • the second image block is written on the second display panel 10D 2 in the next (1/60) second. It is.
  • the corresponding image blocks are sequentially written in each of the display panels 10D 3 , 10D 4 ,..., And 10D 13 , and when (13/60) seconds elapse, all the display panels 10D 1 , 10D 2 ,. And the writing of the corresponding image block to 10D 13 is completed.
  • each display panel 10 is written with a corresponding image block every second, and each display panel 10 displays for (59/60) seconds after the corresponding image block is written.
  • the signal is not applied and is paused.
  • Each display panel continues to display the corresponding image block even during this idle period.
  • the multi-panel display device 150A has a 1 by sequentially repeating the operation of sequentially writing images on the first to Nth display panels 10D 1 to 10D N at a constant period (here, 1 second (1 Hz drive)). One large image can continue to be displayed.
  • a constant period here, 1 second (1 Hz drive)
  • One large image can continue to be displayed.
  • the period until is 1 second or more.
  • the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and each of the plurality of display panels 10 is sequentially switched, thereby corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the displayed signals are sequentially supplied.
  • a low-cost multi-display system 100A can be provided.
  • the image writing period in each display panel 10 can be set to about 1 to several seconds, and the multi-display system 100A can have low power consumption.
  • 2A to 2E show one of the plurality of display panels 10 (here, the display panel 10D 1 ).
  • 2 (a) and 2 (b) show a front view and a side view, respectively.
  • the display panel 10 ⁇ / b> D 1 has an upper substrate 4 and a lower substrate 2.
  • a display medium layer (for example, a liquid crystal layer, not shown) is provided between the upper substrate 4 and the lower substrate 2.
  • the lower substrate 2 has, for example, pixel TFTs and pixel electrodes
  • the upper substrate 4 has, for example, a color filter layer and a counter electrode.
  • the pixel TFT included in the display panel 10D 1 may be a TFT including an oxide semiconductor layer.
  • the oxide semiconductor layer includes, for example, an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor (hereinafter abbreviated as “In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor”).
  • a TFT having an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor layer has high mobility (more than 20 times that of an a-Si TFT) and low leakage current (less than one hundredth of that of an a-Si TFT). It is suitably used as a drive TFT and a pixel TFT. If a TFT having an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor layer is used, the power consumption of the multi-display system can be significantly reduced.
  • the In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor may be amorphous, may include a crystalline portion, and may have crystallinity.
  • a crystalline In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor in which the c-axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the layer surface is preferable.
  • Such a crystal structure of an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-134475. For reference, the entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-134475 is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the oxide semiconductor layer may include another oxide semiconductor instead of the In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor.
  • Zn—O based semiconductor ZnO
  • In—Zn—O based semiconductor IZO (registered trademark)
  • Zn—Ti—O based semiconductor ZTO
  • Cd—Ge—O based semiconductor Cd—Pb—O based
  • CdO cadmium oxide
  • Mg—Zn—O based semiconductors In—Sn—Zn—O based semiconductors (eg, In 2 O 3 —SnO 2 —ZnO), In—Ga—Sn—O based semiconductors, etc. You may go out.
  • the display panel 10D 1 further includes a polarizing plate (not shown) arranged above the upper substrate 4 and a polarizing plate (not shown) arranged below the lower substrate 2.
  • the display panel 10D 1 may further include various optical sheets such as a phase difference plate as necessary.
  • a backlight device is provided below the display panel 10D 1 as necessary.
  • the terminal region 2e is formed in the frame region of the display panel 10D 1 (a region that does not contribute to the display).
  • the terminal area 2e wiring and terminals for inputting various signals (scanning signals, display signals, etc.) for displaying images on the individual display panels 10 are provided.
  • a flexible substrate FPC2 in which a connection portion for connecting to a connector 20A described later is formed is attached to the terminal region 2e.
  • the display panel 10D 1 typically has a bezel 6 that covers the frame region, and a connection portion of the flexible substrate FPC2 is an opening provided in the bezel 6. It is pulled out of the bezel 6 through the section. 2C, 2D, and 2E respectively show a front view, a side view, and a rear view.
  • a connector 20 ⁇ / b> A for electrically connecting the display panel 10 ⁇ / b> D 1 and the common module portion 250 ⁇ / b> A is connected to the connection portion drawn out of the bezel 6.
  • the connector 20A is typically configured to be detachable from the connection portion.
  • Display modes include Vertical Alignment (VA) mode, Twisted Nematic (TN) mode, Optical Compensated Bend (OCB) mode, In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode, and Ringe Field FF switching mode.
  • VA Vertical Alignment
  • TN Twisted Nematic
  • OCB Optical Compensated Bend
  • IPS In-Plane Switching
  • PNLC Crystal
  • cholesteric liquid crystal mode a cholesteric liquid crystal mode.
  • the PNLC mode and the cholesteric liquid crystal mode are advantageous in reducing power consumption in that a reflective display using ambient light is possible and an illumination device such as a backlight is not required.
  • the display panel 10 used in the multi-panel display device 150A preferably has a memory property. “Having a memory property” means that after a voltage is once applied for writing an image, the image is continuously displayed (the display state is maintained) without further supplying a voltage (refreshing). It can be done. Further, when the display panel 10 has a memory property, passive matrix driving can also be employed. For example, a cholesteric liquid crystal display panel has a memory property (bistability in which the axis of the helix is stable in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction), and can employ passive matrix driving that does not use a switching element such as a TFT.
  • the multi-display system 100A using a liquid crystal display panel is illustrated as the display panel 10.
  • the display panel 10 used in the multi-display system 100A according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.
  • Other examples of the display panel 10 include an electrophoretic display panel, a dielectrophoretic display panel, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) display panel, an electrowetting display panel, and an electrochromic display panel.
  • electrophoretic display panel for example, a microcapsule type electrophoretic display panel, an electrophoretic display panel using an electronic powder, or the like can be used.
  • the dielectrophoretic display panel examples include a flake type display panel.
  • the flake type display panel refers to a display panel having a suspension liquid layer containing particles (flakes) having shape anisotropy as a display medium layer.
  • a display panel is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 6,665,042.
  • the applicant of the present application discloses a flake type display panel having a memory property in PCT / JP2014 / 054897.
  • the entire disclosures of US Pat. No. 6,665,042 and PCT / JP2014 / 054897 are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • MEMS display panel for example, the one described in International Publication No. 2007/075832 or the one described in US Pat. No. 5,835,255 can be used.
  • International Publication No. 2007/075832 discloses a MEMS display panel that forms an image by controlling light passing through an aperture by moving a shutter coupled to an actuator.
  • US Pat. No. 5,835,255 discloses a method for modulating the coherence of incident light by micromachine driving.
  • the entire disclosures of WO 2007/075832 and US Pat. No. 5,835,255 are incorporated herein by reference.
  • electrochromic display panel for example, the one described in JP-A-2006-227388 can be used.
  • the entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-227388 is incorporated herein by reference.
  • any of the electrophoretic display panel, the dielectrophoretic display panel, the MEMS display panel, the electrowetting display panel, and the electrochromic display panel can perform a reflective display using ambient light.
  • the electrophoretic display panel, dielectrophoretic display panel, MEMS display panel, electrowetting display panel, and electrochromic display panel those having a memory property are also known.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100B according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multi-display system 100B includes a scanning signal driver 40Bg in which each of the plurality of display panels 10m is integrally formed on a substrate (typically a lower substrate). It is different in having. That is, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of display panels 10 m included in the multi-panel display device 150 ⁇ / b> B has at least a part of the drive circuit (here, the scanning signal driver 40 ⁇ / b> Bg) formed integrally with the display panel. This is a driver monolithic display panel.
  • the number of components of the common module portion 250B can be reduced. Further, the number of the plurality of switches 32B for switching the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10m can be reduced, and the switching circuit 30B is shown in FIG. The configuration can be simpler than the illustrated switching circuit 30A. Furthermore, the number of connectors 20B can be reduced.
  • the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10m is sequentially switched, so that images (images) are sequentially displayed on the plurality of display panels 10m.
  • Block) is written.
  • a scanning signal in the display panel 10m electrically connected to the display signal driver 40s is supplied with a predetermined signal voltage (scanning signal voltage) from the scanning signal driver 40Bg at a predetermined timing.
  • a predetermined signal voltage (display signal voltage) is supplied from the display signal driver 40s at a predetermined timing.
  • a synchronization signal for synchronizing the supply of the scanning signal voltage and the supply of the display signal voltage is supplied from the common module portion 250B.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration in which the scanning signal driver 40Bg is integrally formed on the substrate
  • the present invention is not limited to this example.
  • another circuit including a TFT or the like may be integrally formed on the substrate.
  • a scanning signal driver, a display signal driver, a common voltage driver, a timing generator, a power supply circuit, a storage element (for example, SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)), and the like may be integrally formed on the substrate.
  • amorphous silicon a-Si
  • oxide semiconductor for example, In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor
  • polycrystalline silicon typically low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS)
  • CGS Continuous Grain Silicon
  • the semiconductor layer of the TFT is appropriately selected according to the required mobility.
  • any of a-Si, an oxide semiconductor, LTPS, or CGS is applicable.
  • a display signal driver, a common voltage driver, a timing generator, a power supply circuit, or an SRAM are integrally formed on a substrate, LTPS or CGS can be selected.
  • FIG. 4 schematically shows a configuration of one pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 10 s in which each pixel Pix includes the SRAM 12.
  • the memory element any memory that can be rewritten and does not need to be refreshed may be used.
  • a nonvolatile memory such as a ferroelectric memory (FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory)) may be used in addition to the SRAM.
  • FeRAM Feroelectric Random Access Memory
  • liquid crystal display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 has an advantage that, when displaying a still image, it can be driven at a low frequency of about 1 Hz, for example, and has low power consumption.
  • the 4 has an SRAM 12 and a display voltage supply circuit 14.
  • the SRAM 12 is connected to the scanning line G and the data signal line S.
  • the scanning line G is selected, the data of the data signal line S is stored in the SRAM 12.
  • a display voltage (gradation voltage) corresponding to data stored in the SRAM 12 is supplied from the display voltage supply circuit 14 to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal capacitor 16. Therefore, when displaying a still image, it is not necessary to rewrite the data in the SRAM 12, and during that time, a display voltage corresponding to the data stored in the SRAM 12 is continuously applied from the display voltage supply circuit 14 to the pixel electrode.
  • the drive circuit is operated and the data stored in the SRAM 12 may be rewritten.
  • the reflective liquid crystal display panel does not require a backlight, the power consumption can be further reduced.
  • the PNLC mode that displays black and white in the reflection state and the scattering state does not require a polarizing plate, and thus has an advantage of high light utilization efficiency and low viewing angle dependency.
  • Such a liquid crystal display panel is known as a memory liquid crystal display (see, for example, Sharp Technical Report No. 100, February 2010, pages 23 to 27).
  • FIGS. 1 and 3 the controller, the switching circuit, and the display signal driver are arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device. However, as described with reference to FIGS. All of them may not be arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100C according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multi-panel display device 150C in the multi-display system 100C includes a display signal driver 40s and a switching circuit 30A. That is, in the multi-display system 100C, the display signal driver 40s and the switching circuit 30A in the common module portion 250C are arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device 150C.
  • the controller 50 in the common module portion 250C is disposed in an image signal supply device 200C that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150C.
  • the image signal supply device 200C is provided with a connector 22Cc configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150C.
  • the multi-panel display device 150C is provided with a connector 22Cp corresponding to the connector 22Cc. Therefore, the image signal supply device 200C and the multi-panel display device 150C can be connected via the connector 22Cc and the connector 22Cp. Accordingly, the switching signal and the image signal from the controller 50 disposed in the image signal supply device 200C can be respectively supplied to the switching circuit 30A disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150C, and the multi-panel display device 150C.
  • the display signals from the display signal driver 40 s can be sequentially supplied to each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the display panel 10.
  • a display panel having a memory property is typically used for each of the plurality of display panels 10 in the multi-panel display device 150C. Since each of the plurality of display panels 10 has a memory property, in the multi-display system 100C, when the image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150C needs to be changed, the image signal supply device 200C is changed to the multi-panel display device 150C. Connect to That is, after sequentially writing images (image blocks) on each of the plurality of display panels 10, the image signal supply device 200C can be detached from the multi-panel display device 150C. As the multi-panel display device 150C, the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
  • the image signal supply device 200C can be shared between two or more multi-panel display devices 150C installed in different places.
  • the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 included in each multi-panel display device 150C may differ among the multi-panel display devices 150C.
  • the arrangement of the display panels 10 includes the direction of each display panel 10 (for example, in the case of a rectangular display panel 10, the long side is parallel to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction). In such a case, it is necessary to write an appropriate image block corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 in accordance with the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the processing unit 60 acquires information on the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 from the multi-panel display device 150C. May be.
  • the operator of the image signal supply device 200 ⁇ / b> C may give the processing unit 60 information regarding the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the processing unit 60 can sequentially output appropriate input video signals corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 to the controller 50. Therefore, an appropriate image block corresponding to the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 is written in each of the plurality of display panels 10.
  • the power required for image writing may be supplied from the image signal supply device 200C to the multi-panel display device 150C.
  • the image signal supply device 200 ⁇ / b> C may include a power supply unit 52.
  • the power supply unit 52 includes, for example, a power storage device such as a secondary battery or a capacitor.
  • the power supply unit 52 may be a circuit for connecting an external power source (for example, a commercial power source) and the image signal supply device 200C.
  • each of the plurality of display panels 10 has a memory property, it is not necessary to connect the image signal supply device 200C having the controller 50 to the multi-panel display device 150C except when changing the image. Therefore, the number of parts of the multi-panel display device 150C can be reduced, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150C can be reduced. In addition, since each of the plurality of display panels 10 requires almost no voltage supply except when an image is changed, the power consumption can be reduced. When power necessary for image change is supplied from the image signal supply device 200C, it is not necessary to connect a power source to the multi-panel display device 150C, so the multi-panel display device 150C can be installed in a place where there is no power source. Can be installed.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100D according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multi-display system 100D is different from the multi-display system 100C shown in FIG. 5 in that the multi-panel display device 150D does not have the display signal driver 40s. That is, in the multi-display system 100D, the controller 50 and the display signal driver 40s in the common module portion 250D are arranged in the driver device 200D that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150D, and the switching circuit in the common module portion 250D.
  • 30A is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150D.
  • Each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150D typically has a memory property.
  • the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
  • the driver device 200D has a connector 22Dc configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150D.
  • the connector 22Dc has a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s.
  • the multi-panel display device 150D is provided with a connector 22Dp corresponding to the connector 22Dc.
  • the driver device 200D is connected to the switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device 150D.
  • a switching signal can be supplied from the controller 50 arranged in the circuit.
  • the display signals from the display signal driver 40s can be sequentially supplied to each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150D via the switching circuit 30A.
  • the number of parts of the multi-panel display device 150D can be reduced as compared to the multi-panel display device 150C illustrated in FIG. 5, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150D can be further reduced. Can do. Further, the driver device 200D can be shared between two or more multi-panel display devices 150D, similarly to the image signal supply device 200C shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100E according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multi-display system 100E is different from the multi-display system 100D shown in FIG. 6 in that the multi-panel display device 150E does not have the switching circuit 30A. That is, the multi-display system 100E is different from the multi-display system 100D in that the driver device 200E further includes a switching circuit 30A.
  • the controller 50, the display signal driver 40s, and the switching circuit 30A are arranged in a driver device 200E that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150E. Does not include the common module portion 250E.
  • Each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150E typically has a memory property.
  • the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
  • the driver device 200E has a connector 22Ec configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150E.
  • the connector 22Ec has a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s.
  • the multi-panel display device 150E has a connector 22Ep corresponding to the connector 22Ec. Therefore, the driver device 200E and the multi-panel display device 150E are connected when the image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150E is changed, and the driver device 200E can be detached from the multi-panel display device 150E except when the image is changed. .
  • the number of connection terminals in the connector 22 ⁇ / b> Ec and the connector 22 ⁇ / b> Ep is larger than that in the multi-display system 100 ⁇ / b> D illustrated in FIG. 6, but the number of components of the multi-panel display device 150 ⁇ / b> E is illustrated in FIG.
  • the cost can be reduced more than the multi-panel display device 150D shown, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150E can be further reduced.
  • the multi-panel display device 150E does not include the common module portion 250E, the user can use the multi-display system 100E by purchasing the multi-panel display device 150E.
  • the writing or changing of the image can be requested from a supplier who owns the driver device 200E.
  • the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 can be easily changed, and more flexible operation is possible.
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining an application example of the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention may be, for example, an interior or exterior material of a building (these may be collectively referred to as a building material). .).
  • a building material these may be collectively referred to as a building material.
  • the case where the multi-display system 100E shown in FIG. 7 is used for the interior of a residence is illustrated.
  • FIG. 8A schematically shows a wall of a room R in which the multi-panel display device 150E shown in FIG. 7 is used as a wall material (or wallpaper).
  • the wall surface of the room R is laid with a plurality of display panels 10 instead of wood or stone. Therefore, in the example illustrated in FIG. 8A, the multi-panel display device 150 ⁇ / b> E is configured on the wall surface of the room R. Further, for example, the multi-panel display device 150E can be used for a window. A plurality of display panels 10 are fitted in the window frame of the window W shown in FIG. 8A instead of the window glass.
  • each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame can switch between a scattering state or a reflection state and a transparent state (for example, a PNLC mode liquid crystal display panel, a dielectrophoretic display panel, etc. ).
  • a transparent state for example, a PNLC mode liquid crystal display panel, a dielectrophoretic display panel, etc.
  • Each of the plurality of display panels 10 in the wall or the window W is typically a display panel having a memory property, but if power can be supplied by being connected to, for example, indoor wiring,
  • Each of the plurality of display panels 10 may not have a memory property.
  • the connector 22Ep included in the multi-panel display device 150E constituting the wall surface of the room R is disposed, for example, in a place where the wall surface of the room R is not conspicuous.
  • the connector 22Ep may be arranged on the wall surface of another room.
  • the resident in the room R connects the driver device 200E (see FIG. 7) corresponding to the multi-panel display device 150E to the connector 22Ep arranged on the wall surface of the room R, for example, and writes an image write command to the multi-panel display device 150E. Can be given.
  • image blocks corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 spread on the wall surface are sequentially written on the display panel 10.
  • a winter scene can be displayed on the entire wall.
  • a desired image, pattern, pattern, or the like can be displayed on the wall surface or the like.
  • FIG. 8B shows a state after the image on the multi-panel display device 150E is changed from the state shown in FIG.
  • the resident in the room R reconnects the driver device 200E to the connector 22Ep arranged on the wall surface of the room R, thereby sequentially displaying the image blocks displayed on each of the plurality of display panels 10 spread on the wall surface. It can be changed.
  • a spring scene can be displayed on the entire wall. That is, the resident of the room R can easily change the pattern of the room R by changing the image on the multi-panel display device 150E as necessary. In this case, the resident of the room R does not need to move furniture such as the desk 300 or home appliances installed in front of the wall before moving the room R.
  • the driver device 200E can be connected to the connector 22Ep, it is possible to easily change the design of a part that cannot be reached.
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams each schematically showing a cross section of the display panel 10Da and the display panel 10Db in which the color filter CF is arranged on the observer-side substrate (for example, the upper substrate 4).
  • the color filter CF includes, for example, a red filter CFr, a green filter CFg, and a blue filter CFb.
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically show a state in which red is displayed.
  • the display panel 10Da illustrated in FIG. 9A is a microcapsule type electrophoretic display panel.
  • the display medium layer 3a disposed between a pair of substrates has a plurality of microcapsules 3mc.
  • charged white particles for example, titanium oxide
  • charged black particles for example, carbon black
  • white particles and black particles in the microcapsule 3mc move according to the direction of the electric field.
  • FIG. 9A shows that white particles and black particles in the microcapsule 3mc move according to the direction of the electric field.
  • an electric field is applied to the microcapsule 3mc at a position corresponding to the red filter CFr so that white particles approach the color filter CF side (observer side), and the green filter CFg If an electric field is applied to the microcapsule 3mc located at a position corresponding to the color filter CFb and a position corresponding to the blue filter CFb, red is observed by the observer.
  • the display panel 10Db illustrated in FIG. 9B is a flake type display panel.
  • a liquid medium is sealed in the display medium layer 3b disposed between the pair of substrates (the upper substrate 4 and the lower substrate 2).
  • the shape anisotropic particles (flakes) 3fk having light reflectivity are dispersed.
  • a light absorption layer 5 containing a pigment used for a black matrix material included in a color filter of a liquid crystal display device or the like is provided on the display medium layer 3b side of the lower substrate 2.
  • the flakes 3fk are oriented almost perpendicularly to the substrate surface.
  • an electric field is provided such that the flakes 3fk at the position corresponding to the green filter CFg and the position corresponding to the blue filter CFb are substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the light that has passed through the green filter CFg or the blue filter CFb is reflected in the light absorption layer 5. Is absorbed (black display).
  • the light that has passed through the red filter CFr is reflected by the flakes 3fk at the position corresponding to the red filter CFr. Therefore, red is observed by the observer.
  • a resident in the room R for example, a connector 22Ep (not shown) and a driver device 200E (FIG.
  • each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame can be in a transparent state (FIG. 8A).
  • the resident in the room R can reconnect the driver device 200E to the connector 22Ep so that each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame is in a scattering state or a reflecting state (FIG. 8 ( b)). Therefore, the multi-panel display device 150E can be used as a sunshade or a blindfold.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining switching between the transparent state and the scattering state in the PNLC mode liquid crystal display panel.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B show a transparent state and a scattering state, respectively.
  • the display panel 10Dc shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B has a liquid crystal layer (display medium layer) 3c disposed between a pair of substrates (upper substrate 4 and lower substrate 2).
  • the liquid crystal layer 3c has a polymer phase (not shown) and liquid crystal droplets (not shown) dispersed in the polymer phase.
  • an electric field is applied between a pair of substrates by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown)
  • the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal droplets are aligned parallel to the electric field.
  • the liquid crystal material and the polymer material are selected so that the ordinary refractive index (n O ) of the liquid crystal molecule matches the refractive index (n P , isotropic) of the polymer phase.
  • the ambient light IL1 incident on the display panel 10Dc passes through the liquid crystal layer and becomes transmitted light TL. That is, at this time, the display panel 10Dc is in a transparent state (FIG. 10A).
  • the ambient light IL2 incident on the display panel 10Dc is scattered by the liquid crystal layer, and the scattered light SL is generated. Since the scattered light SL goes out to the viewer side, it is observed as a cloudy state by the viewer (FIG. 10B).
  • FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining switching between the transparent state and the reflective state in the flake type display panel.
  • FIGS. 11A and 11B show a transparent state and a reflective state, respectively.
  • a display panel 10Dd shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is different from the display panel 10Db shown in FIG. 9B in that it does not have a color filter and a light absorption layer.
  • the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be used for building materials.
  • a multi-panel display device in a multi-display system can be used as a wall material, a floor material, a ceiling material, or the like.
  • a multi-panel display device is used as an interior material, high weather resistance is not required, so that the manufacturing cost of the multi-panel display device is suppressed compared to the case where it is used as an exterior material.
  • it is not necessary to move furniture or the like when changing the pattern it is possible to easily and inexpensively change the pattern in a residence or commercial facility.
  • a multi-display system with lower cost or lower power consumption than the conventional one is provided.
  • an image can be written or changed by a portable driver device that is separate from the multi-panel display device, so that the multi-display system can be operated more flexibly.
  • it is easier to increase the area of the multi-panel display device.
  • an example in which an image block is written for each display panel has been described. However, for example, writing may be sequentially performed for each set of two or more display panels.
  • the multi-display system or the driver device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be suitably used for so-called digital signage, building materials, and the like.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)

Abstract

This multi-display system (100A) is provided with: a multi-panel display device (150A) having a plurality of display panels (10); a switching circuit (30A) having a plurality of switches (32A); a display-signal driver (40s) for supplying a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels; and a controller (50) for supplying an image signal to the display-signal driver, and supplying, to the switching circuit, a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between an output terminal of the display-signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels. Each of the plurality of display panels is capable of displaying an image throughout an interval represented by the product of the total number of display panels and the time necessary to write one image in a desired display panel among the plurality of display panels.

Description

マルチディスプレイシステム、ドライバ装置、およびマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法Multi-display system, driver device, and driving method of multi-panel display device
　本発明は、マルチディスプレイシステムに関し、マルチディスプレイシステムに用いられるドライバ装置、およびマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法にも関する。 The present invention relates to a multi-display system, and also relates to a driver device used in the multi-display system and a driving method of the multi-panel display device.
　近年、複数の表示装置を配列する（タイリングということがある）ことによって大画面の表示装置を擬似的に実現することが試みられている（例えば特許文献１）。一方、いわゆるデジタルサイネージの利用が進んでいる。デジタルサイネージとは、商業施設や交通機関、屋外等に設置され、広告や案内等を表示する表示装置をいう。デジタルサイネージは、広告や案内等を画面に表示させ続ける必要があるので、低消費電力化が１つの課題となっている。特許文献２では、複数の電子ペーパがマトリクス状に配列された表示装置をデジタルサイネージに用いることが開示されている。 Recently, attempts have been made to realize a large-screen display device in a pseudo manner by arranging a plurality of display devices (sometimes referred to as tiling) (for example, Patent Document 1). On the other hand, so-called digital signage is being used. Digital signage is a display device that is installed in commercial facilities, transportation facilities, outdoors, etc., and displays advertisements, guidance, and the like. In digital signage, since it is necessary to continue displaying advertisements, guidance, and the like on the screen, low power consumption is an issue. Patent Document 2 discloses that a display device in which a plurality of electronic papers are arranged in a matrix is used for digital signage.
特開２０１２－０５８４５６号公報JP 2012-058456 A 特開２０１１－０２２３９１号公報JP 2011-022391 A
　しかしながら、特許文献２に開示される表示装置では、それぞれがデータドライバおよびソースドライバを有する複数の電子ペーパが配列されているので、電子ペーパの数の増加に伴ってドライバの数が増加し、コストが上昇する。 However, in the display device disclosed in Patent Document 2, since a plurality of electronic papers each having a data driver and a source driver are arranged, the number of drivers increases as the number of electronic papers increases, and the cost increases. Rises.
　本発明は、上記課題に鑑みてなされたものであり、低コストまたは低消費電力のマルチディスプレイシステムを提供することを目的とする。また、本発明は、このようなマルチディスプレイシステムに用いることが可能な、ドライバ装置、およびマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a multi-display system with low cost or low power consumption. It is another object of the present invention to provide a driver device and a driving method for a multi-panel display device that can be used in such a multi-display system.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムは、複数の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置と、複数のスイッチを有する切り替え回路と、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに表示信号を供給する表示信号用ドライバと、画像信号を前記表示信号用ドライバに供給するとともに、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と前記複数の表示パネルの内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を前記切り替え回路に供給するコントローラとを備え、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、前記複数の表示パネルの内の任意の表示パネルに１つの画像を書き込むために必要な時間と、前記複数の表示パネルの総数との積によって表される期間にわたって、画像を表示することができる。 A multi-display system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels, a switching circuit having a plurality of switches, and a display signal driver for supplying a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels. The switching signal for sequentially switching the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels is supplied to the display signal driver. A controller for supplying a circuit, and each of the plurality of display panels includes a time required for writing one image to an arbitrary display panel of the plurality of display panels, and a total number of the plurality of display panels. The image can be displayed over a period represented by the product of.
　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、それぞれが、酸化物半導体層を有する複数の画素ＴＦＴ（薄膜トランジスタ）を含み、前記酸化物半導体層は、Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体を含んでいてもよい。前記Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系の半導体は、結晶質部分を含んでいてもよい。 Each of the plurality of display panels may include a plurality of pixel TFTs (thin film transistors) each having an oxide semiconductor layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer may include an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor. . The In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor may include a crystalline portion.
　ある実施形態において、前記切り替え回路は、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている。 In one embodiment, the switching circuit is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
　ある実施形態において、前記表示信号用ドライバは、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている。 In one embodiment, the display signal driver is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
　ある実施形態において、前記コントローラは、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている。 In one embodiment, the controller is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
　ある実施形態において、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、メモリ性を有する。 In one embodiment, each of the plurality of display panels has a memory property.
　ある実施形態において、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、基板と、前記基板上に一体的に形成された複数の記憶素子とを有する。 In one embodiment, each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a plurality of memory elements integrally formed on the substrate.
　ある実施形態において、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、基板と、前記基板上に一体的に形成された走査信号用ドライバとを有する。 In one embodiment, each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a scanning signal driver integrally formed on the substrate.
　ある実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムは、少なくとも、前記複数の表示パネルに表示される画像を変更する命令を受信するように構成された受信回路をさらに備える。 The multi-display system according to an embodiment further includes at least a receiving circuit configured to receive an instruction to change an image displayed on the plurality of display panels.
　本発明の実施形態によるドライバ装置は、複数の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置における前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに表示信号を供給する表示信号用ドライバと、画像信号を前記表示信号用ドライバに供給するとともに、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と前記複数の表示パネルの内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を、複数のスイッチを有する切り替え回路に供給するコントローラと、前記マルチパネル表示装置に対して着脱自在に構成されたコネクタであって、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と電気的に接続された複数の接続端子を有するコネクタとを備える。 A driver device according to an embodiment of the present invention supplies a display signal driver that supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels in a multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels, and supplies an image signal to the display signal driver. And a controller that supplies a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels to a switching circuit having a plurality of switches. A connector configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device, the connector having a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to output terminals of the display signal driver.
　ある実施形態によるドライバ装置は、前記複数の表示パネルの総数および／または配置に関する情報を取得するとともに、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに対応した入力映像信号を前記コントローラに順次出力するように構成された処理部をさらに備える。 A driver device according to an embodiment is configured to acquire information on the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels and sequentially output input video signals corresponding to the plurality of display panels to the controller. The processing unit is further provided.
　ある実施形態によるドライバ装置は、前記切り替え回路をさらに備える。 A driver device according to an embodiment further includes the switching circuit.
　ある実施形態によるドライバ装置は、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれへの画像の書き込みに必要な電力を前記マルチパネル表示装置に供給する。 A driver device according to an embodiment supplies power required for writing an image to each of the plurality of display panels to the multi-panel display device.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法は、Ｎ枚（Ｎは２以上の自然数）の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法であって、第１から第Ｎの表示パネルに、１枚ずつ１フレーム期間ごとに順次に、画像を書き込む工程（ａ）と、画像が書き込まれた前記Ｎ枚の表示パネルのそれぞれに、１フレーム期間×Ｎ以上の所定の期間にわたって、画像を表示させ続ける工程（ｂ）とを含み、前記所定の期間が経過した後、前記工程（ａ）および（ｂ）をさらに行う。 A driving method of a multi-panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a driving method of a multi-panel display device having N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) display panels. Step (a) in which images are sequentially written for each frame period one by one, and each of the N display panels on which the images have been written are subjected to an image over a predetermined period of 1 frame period × N or more. Including the step (b) of continuing the display, and after the predetermined period has elapsed, the steps (a) and (b) are further performed.
　ある実施形態において、前記所定の期間は、１秒以上である。 In one embodiment, the predetermined period is 1 second or longer.
　本発明の実施形態によれば、従来よりも低コストまたは低消費電力なマルチディスプレイシステムが提供される。また、本発明の実施形態によれば、マルチディスプレイシステムに好適に用いることが可能な、ドライバ装置、およびマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法が提供される。 According to the embodiment of the present invention, a multi-display system with lower cost or lower power consumption than the conventional one is provided. In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a driver device and a driving method of a multi-panel display device that can be suitably used in a multi-display system are provided.
本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａの模式図である。1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100A according to an embodiment of the present invention. （ａ）～（ｅ）は、複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つを示す図である。(A)-(e) is a figure which shows one of the some display panels 10. FIG. 本発明の他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｂの模式図である。It is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100B according to another embodiment of the present invention. 各画素ＰｉｘがＳＲＡＭ１２を有する液晶表示パネル１０ｓの１画素の構成を模式的に示す図である。It is a figure which shows typically the structure of 1 pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 10s in which each pixel Pix has SRAM12. 本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃの模式図である。It is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100C according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄの模式図である。It is a schematic diagram of multi-display system 100D according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅの模式図である。It is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100E according to still another embodiment of the present invention. （ａ）および（ｂ）は、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムの応用例を説明するための図である。(A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the application example of the multi-display system by embodiment of this invention. （ａ）および（ｂ）は、それぞれ、観察者側の基板にカラーフィルタＣＦが配置された表示パネル１０Ｄａおよび表示パネル１０Ｄｂの断面を模式的に示す図である。(A) And (b) is a figure which shows typically the cross section of display panel 10Da and display panel 10Db by which color filter CF is arrange | positioned at the board | substrate of an observer side, respectively. （ａ）および（ｂ）は、ＰＤＬＣモードの液晶表示パネルにおける、透明状態と散乱状態との間の切り替えを説明する模式的な断面図である。(A) And (b) is typical sectional drawing explaining the switching between a transparent state and a scattering state in the liquid crystal display panel of PDLC mode. （ａ）および（ｂ）は、フレーク型表示パネルにおける、透明状態と反射状態との間の切り替えを説明する模式的な断面図である。(A) And (b) is typical sectional drawing explaining the switching between a transparent state and a reflective state in a flake type display panel.
　以下、図面を参照して本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム、ドライバ装置、およびマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法を説明するが、本発明は、例示する実施形態に限定されない。 Hereinafter, a multi-display system, a driver device, and a driving method of a multi-panel display device according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.
　図１に、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａを模式的に示す。なお、以下の図面において、実質的に同じ機能を有する構成要素は共通の参照符号で示し、説明を省略することがある。 FIG. 1 schematically shows a multi-display system 100A according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following drawings, components having substantially the same function are denoted by common reference numerals, and description thereof may be omitted.
　マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａは、複数の表示パネル１０を有するマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａと、複数のスイッチ３２Ａを有する切り替え回路３０Ａと、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと、コントローラ５０とを備える。表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓは、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに表示信号を供給する。コントローラ５０は、画像信号を表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給するとともに、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を切り替え回路３０Ａに供給する。 The multi-display system 100A includes a multi-panel display device 150A having a plurality of display panels 10, a switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A, a display signal driver 40s, and a controller 50. The display signal driver 40 s supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels 10. The controller 50 supplies an image signal to the display signal driver 40s, and a switching signal for sequentially switching the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10. Is supplied to the switching circuit 30A.
　マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａでは、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つとの間の電気的な接続が順次切り替えられ、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓからの表示信号が複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに順次供給される。これにより、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに順次に画像が書き込まれる。このように、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムでは、表示信号用ドライバ等の駆動回路が複数の表示パネルの間で共有化されているので、表示パネルの数の増加に伴う駆動回路の数の増加が抑制される。 In the multi-display system 100A, the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10 is sequentially switched, and the display signal from the display signal driver 40s is displayed in a plurality of ways. Sequentially supplied to each of the panels 10. As a result, images are sequentially written on each of the plurality of display panels 10. As described above, in the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the drive circuit such as the display signal driver is shared among the plurality of display panels. Therefore, the number of the drive circuits accompanying the increase in the number of display panels. The increase of is suppressed.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａにおいて、複数の表示パネル１０には、１枚ずつ順次に画像が書き込まれる。複数の表示パネル１０の内、最初に画像が書き込まれた表示パネル１０は、最後の表示パネル１０に画像が書き込まれるまで、画像を表示し続ける。したがって、最後の表示パネル１０に画像が書き込まれた段階で、複数の表示パネル１０が表示する複数の画像によって、１つの大きな画像が表示されることになる。複数の表示パネル１０に次に画像を書き込むタイミングは、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれが画像を表示し続けられる時間（「表示維持時間」ということがある。）に依存する。ここで、「表示維持時間」とは、ある画像が書き込まれた後、再度の画像の書き込み（「リフレッシュ」ということがある。）を行うことなく、当該画像を表示した状態を維持することをいう。デジタルサイネージにおいては、画像を変更する頻度が低い利用形態（例えば、１日以上にわたって静止画表示する場合）も多い。このような場合には、例えば表示パネル１０がメモリ性を有していれば、表示すべき画像を変更するまで、表示パネル１０に画像を書き込む（リフレッシュする）必要はない。 In the multi-display system 100A according to the embodiment of the present invention, images are sequentially written on the plurality of display panels 10 one by one. Among the plurality of display panels 10, the display panel 10 on which the image is first written continues to display the image until the image is written on the last display panel 10. Therefore, one large image is displayed by the plurality of images displayed on the plurality of display panels 10 when the image is written on the last display panel 10. The timing for writing the next image on the plurality of display panels 10 depends on the time during which each of the plurality of display panels 10 continues to display an image (sometimes referred to as “display maintenance time”). Here, the “display maintenance time” refers to maintaining the state of displaying the image without writing the image again (sometimes referred to as “refresh”) after the image is written. Say. In digital signage, there are many usage forms in which the frequency of changing an image is low (for example, when a still image is displayed for one day or more). In such a case, for example, if the display panel 10 has a memory property, it is not necessary to write (refresh) the image on the display panel 10 until the image to be displayed is changed.
　ここで、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａの動作、すなわちマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａを駆動する方法を説明するために、いくつかの時間（期間）を定義する。 Here, in order to explain the operation of the multi-display system 100A according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the method of driving the multi-panel display device 150A, several times (periods) are defined.
　マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａが有する複数の表示パネル１０に１つの大きな画像を書き込むために必要な時間は、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに、各表示パネル１０に対応する画像を書き込むために必要な時間と、表示パネル１０の総数（２以上の自然数「Ｎ」で表すことにする。）とで表されるとする。ここで、複数の表示パネル１０の１つの表示パネル１０に画像を書き込むために必要な時間を「１フレーム期間（１Ｆ期間）」ということにする。そうすると、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに１つの大きな画像を書き込むために必要な時間は、１フレーム期間×Ｎ（「期間ＮＦ」と表記することもある。）となる（「×」は乗算を表す。）。各表示パネル１０の１フレーム期間は、複数の表示パネル１０に順次に画像を書き込むという動作を連続的に行う場合（第１～第Ｎ表示パネルに順次に画像を書き込んだ後、続いて、第１～第Ｎ表示パネルに順次に画像を書き込むという動作を繰り返す場合）に、ある表示パネル１０に対して画像の書き込みを開始する時刻と、その次の表示パネル１０に対して画像の書き込みを開始する時刻との差として定義することにする。 The time required to write one large image on the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A is the time required to write an image corresponding to each display panel 10 on each of the plurality of display panels 10. And the total number of display panels 10 (denoted by a natural number “N” of 2 or more). Here, the time required to write an image on one display panel 10 of the plurality of display panels 10 is referred to as “one frame period (1F period)”. Then, the time required to write one large image on the multi-panel display device 150A is 1 frame period × N (may be expressed as “period NF”) (“×” represents multiplication). ). In one frame period of each display panel 10, when an operation of sequentially writing images to a plurality of display panels 10 is performed continuously (after sequentially writing images to the first to Nth display panels, When the operation of sequentially writing images to the 1st to Nth display panels is repeated), the start of image writing to a certain display panel 10 and the start of image writing to the next display panel 10 It is defined as the difference from the time to be.
　上述のように複数の表示パネル１０に順次に画像を書き込むという動作を連続的に行って、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａで１つの大きな画像を表示するマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａにおいては、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは１フレーム期間×Ｎ（期間ＮＦ）にわたって画像を表示し続ける必要がある。すなわち、各表示パネル１０の表示維持時間は期間ＮＦよりも長いことが求められる。上述したような、画像を変更する頻度が少ない用途では、各表示パネル１０はメモリ性を有していることが好ましい。各表示パネル１０がメモリ性を有していると、例えば、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに時間ＮＦで画像を書き込んだ後、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａへの画像の書き込み動作を休止し、画像を変更する必要が生じた時点で（例えば、１日の休止期間を経て）、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａへの画像の書き込み動作を行うという駆動方法を採用することができる。休止期間は適宜設定され、休止期間が長いほど、消費電力を低減する効果が大きい。休止期間は、表示パネル１０の表示維持期間より長く設定することはできないので、表示パネル１０がメモリ性を有することが好ましい。 In the multi-display system 100A in which the multi-panel display device 150A displays one large image by sequentially performing the operation of sequentially writing images on the plurality of display panels 10 as described above, Each needs to continue displaying an image over one frame period × N (period NF). That is, the display maintenance time of each display panel 10 is required to be longer than the period NF. In applications where the frequency of changing an image is low as described above, each display panel 10 preferably has a memory property. If each display panel 10 has a memory property, for example, after writing an image to the multi-panel display device 150A in time NF, the image writing operation to the multi-panel display device 150A is suspended and the image is changed. A driving method of performing an image writing operation on the multi-panel display device 150A when a need arises (for example, after a one-day rest period) can be employed. The suspension period is set as appropriate, and the longer the suspension period, the greater the effect of reducing power consumption. Since the pause period cannot be set longer than the display maintenance period of the display panel 10, it is preferable that the display panel 10 has a memory property.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａが有する表示パネル１０は、上述したように、メモリ性を有することが好ましいが、期間ＮＦより長い表示維持期間を有すれば、少なくとも駆動回路を共有化することによるメリットは得られるとともに、各表示パネル１０を１Ｆ期間（１／ＦＨｚ）で駆動する場合に比べて、消費電力を概ねＮ分の１に低減することができる。 As described above, the display panel 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A according to the embodiment of the present invention preferably has a memory property. However, if it has a display maintenance period longer than the period NF, at least the drive circuit is shared. Advantages of doing so can be obtained, and the power consumption can be reduced to approximately 1 / N compared to the case where each display panel 10 is driven in the 1F period (1 / FHz).
　なお、各表示パネル１０について、「水平走査期間」および「垂直走査期間」を以下のように定義することにする。「水平走査期間」は、ある走査線を選択する時刻と、その次の走査線を選択する時刻との差（期間）を意味する。「垂直走査期間」は、表示パネルに含まれる走査線の総数と、水平走査期間との積を意味する。液晶表示パネルについて一般的に用いられる「垂直走査期間」という用語は、走査線が選択され、次にその走査線が選択されるまでの期間を意味することが多いが、本発明の実施形態によるマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａにおいて、ある表示パネル１０のある走査線が選択され、次にその走査線が選択されるまでの期間は、休止期間を含むので、上述のように定義する。 For each display panel 10, the “horizontal scanning period” and the “vertical scanning period” are defined as follows. The “horizontal scanning period” means a difference (period) between a time when a certain scanning line is selected and a time when the next scanning line is selected. The “vertical scanning period” means the product of the total number of scanning lines included in the display panel and the horizontal scanning period. The term “vertical scanning period” generally used for a liquid crystal display panel often means a period from when a scanning line is selected until the next scanning line is selected, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the multi-panel display device 150A, a period from when a certain scanning line of a certain display panel 10 is selected until the next scanning line is selected includes a pause period, and thus is defined as described above.
　また、各表示パネル１０に画像を書き込むために必要な時間である「１フレーム期間（１Ｆ期間）」は少なくとも１つの垂直走査期間を含むが、２以上の垂直走査期間を含んでもよい。例えば、液晶表示パネルを駆動する場合に、液晶に特有の応答特性を考慮して、同じ画像を２回続けて書き込む駆動方法が採用される場合がある。例えば、Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系の半導体を用いたＴＦＦ型液晶表示パネルを用いる場合に、各液晶表示パネルにおいて、連続する２垂直走査期間（例えば約２×１／６０秒）にわたって同じ画像を書き込み、その後、休止期間（例えば約１秒）を設けるという駆動方法がある。１Ｆ期間が１つの垂直走査期間を含み、かつ休止期間が設けられた場合における、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａの動作の詳細については後述する。 Further, the “one frame period (1F period)” that is a time necessary for writing an image on each display panel 10 includes at least one vertical scanning period, but may include two or more vertical scanning periods. For example, when a liquid crystal display panel is driven, there is a case where a driving method for writing the same image twice in succession is considered in consideration of response characteristics peculiar to the liquid crystal. For example, when a TFF type liquid crystal display panel using an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is used, the same image is displayed over two consecutive vertical scanning periods (for example, about 2 × 1/60 seconds) in each liquid crystal display panel. There is a driving method in which a pause period (for example, about 1 second) is provided after the writing. Details of the operation of the multi-display system 100A when the 1F period includes one vertical scanning period and a pause period is provided will be described later.
　再び図１を参照する。図１に示すように、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａと、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａとを含む。以下、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａの構成および共通モジュール部分２５０Ａの構成を順に説明する。 Refer to FIG. 1 again. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-display system 100A includes a multi-panel display device 150A and a common module portion 250A. Hereinafter, the configuration of the multi-panel display device 150A and the configuration of the common module portion 250A will be described in order.
　マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａは、複数の表示パネル１０を有している。図１に例示した構成では、複数の表示パネル１０は、表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤN（図１に例示した構成ではＮ＝１３）を含んでいる。図１では、１３枚の表示パネルは、４枚、３枚、３枚、３枚の４行に配置されており、互いに隣接する２つの行の間では、表示パネルの中心は左右に半ピッチずつずれている。以下では、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａが有するＮ枚の表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNを、それぞれ、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1、第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2、…および第Ｎ表示パネル１０ＤNということがある。もちろん、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａが有する表示パネル１０の数や配置は、この例に限られない。 The multi-panel display device 150 </ b> A has a plurality of display panels 10. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of display panels 10 include display panels 10D 1 , 10D 2 ,..., And 10D N (N = 13 in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the 13 display panels are arranged in 4 rows of 4, 3, 3, and 3. The center of the display panel is a half pitch left and right between two adjacent rows. It is shifted one by one. In the following, N display panels 10D 1, 10D 2 having a multi-panel display device 150A, the ... and 10D N, respectively, the first display panel 10D 1, the second display panel 10D 2, ... and the N display panel 10D Sometimes called N. Of course, the number and arrangement of the display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A are not limited to this example.
　表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれは、期間ＮＦにわたって画像を表示することができる表示パネルである。すなわち、表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれの表示維持期間は、期間ＮＦよりも長い。ここでは、表示パネル１０として、画素ＴＦＴにＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系の半導体が用いられたＴＦＦ型液晶表示パネルを例示する。Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系の半導体等の酸化物半導体をＴＦＴのチャネル（活性層）として用いることによって、各表示パネル１０における画像の書き込み頻度（駆動周波数）を低下させ得る。例えば、１～数（Ｈｚ）の頻度で画像を書き込む、いわゆる低周波駆動を各表示パネル１０に行わせることが可能である。マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに用いられる表示パネル１０の詳細な構成および他の具体例については後述する。 Display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, each of ... and 10D N, is a display panel that can display an image over a period NF. That is, each of the display sustain period of the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and 10D N is longer than the period NF. Here, as the display panel 10, a TFF liquid crystal display panel in which an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is used for the pixel TFT is illustrated. By using an oxide semiconductor such as an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor as a TFT channel (active layer), the image writing frequency (driving frequency) in each display panel 10 can be reduced. For example, it is possible to cause each display panel 10 to perform so-called low frequency driving, in which an image is written at a frequency of 1 to several (Hz). The detailed configuration of the display panel 10 used in the multi-panel display device 150A and other specific examples will be described later.
　共通モジュール部分２５０Ａは、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに表示信号等の種々の信号を供給するための回路を有している。図１に例示した構成では、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａに、コントローラ５０と、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと、複数のスイッチ３２Ａを有する切り替え回路３０Ａとが配置されている。図１に示したように、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａが、走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇ、処理部６０、記憶装置７０、インターフェイス８０等を有していてもよい。図１に例示した構成では、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａと一体に配置されている。ただし、後述するように、例えば複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれがメモリ性を有する場合には、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａと着脱自在に構成され得る。 The common module portion 250A has a circuit for supplying various signals such as display signals to each of the plurality of display panels 10. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, a controller 50, a display signal driver 40s, and a switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A are arranged in the common module portion 250A. As shown in FIG. 1, the common module portion 250A may include a scanning signal driver 40g, a processing unit 60, a storage device 70, an interface 80, and the like. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the common module portion 250 </ b> A is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150 </ b> A. However, as will be described later, for example, when each of the plurality of display panels 10 has a memory property, the common module portion 250A can be configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150A.
　切り替え回路３０Ａは、複数のスイッチ３２Ａを有し、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つとの間に電気的な接続を形成する。図１は、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子および走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇの出力端子に、第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2が電気的に接続された状態を模式的に示している。なお、複雑さを避けるため、図１では、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓおよび走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇに接続されたスイッチをそれぞれ１つずつ図示しているが、例えば表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓには、少なくとも、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれが有するデータ信号線の本数と同数のスイッチが接続される。同様に、例えば走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇには、少なくとも、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれが有する走査線の本数と同数のスイッチが接続される。図１では、個々の表示パネルと切り替え回路３０Ａとの間の配線を、それぞれ、単一の線で模式的に示している。 The switching circuit 30 </ b> A has a plurality of switches 32 </ b> A and forms an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40 s and one of the plurality of display panels 10. FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which the second display panel 10D 2 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and the output terminal of the scanning signal driver 40g. In order to avoid complexity, FIG. 1 shows one switch connected to each of the display signal driver 40s and the scanning signal driver 40g. However, for example, the display signal driver 40s includes at least one switch. The same number of switches as the number of data signal lines included in each of the plurality of display panels 10 are connected. Similarly, for example, at least the same number of switches as the number of scanning lines included in each of the plurality of display panels 10 are connected to the scanning signal driver 40g. In FIG. 1, the wiring between each display panel and the switching circuit 30A is schematically shown by a single line.
　複数のスイッチ３２Ａのそれぞれは、例えばトランジスタを含み、電気的に制御可能なスイッチとして構成される。複数のスイッチ３２Ａのそれぞれは、後述するコントローラ５０から供給される切り替え信号に応じて、複数の表示パネル１０の内、いずれの表示パネル１０と表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子とが接続されるかを切り替える。したがって、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａにおいては、複数の表示パネル１０の全てに一斉に画像の書き込みが行われることはなく、画像の書き込みは、表示パネル１０ごとに行われる。 Each of the plurality of switches 32A includes a transistor, for example, and is configured as an electrically controllable switch. Each of the plurality of switches 32A is connected to which display panel 10 and the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s among the plurality of display panels 10 according to a switching signal supplied from the controller 50 described later. Switch. Therefore, in the multi-display system 100A, image writing is not performed on all of the plurality of display panels 10 at the same time, and image writing is performed for each display panel 10.
　コントローラ５０は、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を切り替え回路３０Ａに供給する。この切り替え信号は、後述する表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓからの表示信号の供給と整合するようにして、切り替え回路３０Ａに供給される。 The controller 50 supplies a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10 to the switching circuit 30A. This switching signal is supplied to the switching circuit 30A so as to be consistent with the supply of the display signal from the display signal driver 40s described later.
　また、コントローラ５０は、入力映像信号を受け取り、受け取った入力映像信号に基づいて画像信号を生成する。入力映像信号は、例えば記憶装置７０に記憶された画像データから生成される信号である。図１に例示した構成では、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａは、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａに配置された記憶装置７０と、ＣＰＵ、ビデオメモリ（ＶＲＡＭ）、グラフィックコントローラ等を含む処理部６０とを有している。処理部６０は、記憶装置７０に記憶された画像データに基づいて入力映像信号を生成し、生成された入力映像信号が、コントローラ５０に供給される。記憶装置７０としては、公知の種々の記憶装置を用いることができ、例えば半導体メモリやハードディスク、公知の種々の光ディスクドライブ装置を用いることができる。記憶装置７０は、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａに対して着脱自在に構成された記憶装置であり得る。 Further, the controller 50 receives an input video signal and generates an image signal based on the received input video signal. The input video signal is a signal generated from image data stored in the storage device 70, for example. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the multi-display system 100A includes a storage device 70 disposed in the common module portion 250A, and a processing unit 60 including a CPU, a video memory (VRAM), a graphic controller, and the like. The processing unit 60 generates an input video signal based on the image data stored in the storage device 70, and the generated input video signal is supplied to the controller 50. As the storage device 70, various known storage devices can be used. For example, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, and various known optical disk drive devices can be used. The storage device 70 may be a storage device configured to be detachable from the common module portion 250A.
　なお、図１に示したように、共通モジュール部分２５０Ａがインターフェイス８０を有していてもよい。インターフェイス８０は、例えば、少なくとも、複数の表示パネル１０に表示される画像を変更する命令（「画像変更命令」ということがある。）を受信するように構成された受信回路を含む。マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａに対する画像変更命令の送信の方式は、有線（例えばＵＳＢ、有線ＬＡＮ等）または無線（例えば赤外線、無線ＬＡＮ等）のいずれであってもよい。いわゆるクラウドを介して画像変更命令が送信されてもよい。 Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the common module portion 250 </ b> A may have an interface 80. The interface 80 includes, for example, at least a receiving circuit configured to receive an instruction to change an image displayed on the plurality of display panels 10 (sometimes referred to as an “image change instruction”). The transmission method of the image change command to the multi-display system 100A may be either wired (for example, USB, wired LAN, etc.) or wireless (for example, infrared, wireless LAN, etc.). The image change command may be transmitted via a so-called cloud.
　コントローラ５０によって生成された画像信号は、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給される。コントローラ５０は、画像信号のほか、データスタートパルス信号、データクロック信号、ラッチストローブ信号およびデータ信号の極性を制御する信号などを表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給する。 The image signal generated by the controller 50 is supplied to the display signal driver 40s. In addition to the image signal, the controller 50 supplies a data start pulse signal, a data clock signal, a latch strobe signal, a signal for controlling the polarity of the data signal, and the like to the display signal driver 40s.
　表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓは、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに表示信号を供給する。より詳細には、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓは、コントローラ５０から供給された画像信号に基づき、表示パネル（ここでは液晶表示パネル）１０に応じた表示信号（階調信号）を生成し、表示パネル１０（切り替え回路３０Ａを介して表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと電気的に接続されている表示パネルであり、ここでは第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2）のデータ信号線にそれぞれ供給する。表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓはまた個々の表示パネルに共通電圧Ｖｃｏｍを供給する。 The display signal driver 40 s supplies a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels 10. More specifically, the display signal driver 40 s generates a display signal (gradation signal) corresponding to the display panel (here, a liquid crystal display panel) 10 based on the image signal supplied from the controller 50, and displays the display panel 10. (The display panel is electrically connected to the display signal driver 40s via the switching circuit 30A, and here is supplied to the data signal lines of the second display panel 10D 2 ). The display signal driver 40s also supplies a common voltage Vcom to each display panel.
　走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇは、コントローラ５０から供給された信号（例えば、ゲートスタートパルス信号、ゲートクロック信号および走査信号用ドライバ出力制御信号）に基づき、走査信号を生成し、走査線（ゲートバスライン）に供給する。走査信号によって選択された走査線にＴＦＴを介して接続された各画素（液晶容量および補助容量）に表示信号電圧が印加される。 The scanning signal driver 40g generates a scanning signal based on signals (for example, a gate start pulse signal, a gate clock signal, and a scanning signal driver output control signal) supplied from the controller 50, and scan lines (gate bus lines). To supply. A display signal voltage is applied to each pixel (liquid crystal capacitor and auxiliary capacitor) connected via a TFT to the scanning line selected by the scanning signal.
　以下、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａにおける動作の具体例を説明する。以下では、１Ｆ期間が１つの垂直走査期間を含み、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれの駆動周波数が１Ｈｚに設定された場合の動作を説明する。 Hereinafter, a specific example of the operation in the multi-display system 100A will be described. Hereinafter, an operation when the 1F period includes one vertical scanning period and the drive frequency of each of the plurality of display panels 10 is set to 1 Hz will be described.
　マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに全体として１つの画像を表示させる場合、まず、コントローラ５０は、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1への画像の書き込みに先立ち、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子（ここでは走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇの出力端子も）と第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1とを電気的に接続するための切り替え信号を切り替え回路３０Ａに供給する。切り替え回路３０Ａが複数のスイッチ３２Ａの接続先を切り替えることにより、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1との間の電気的な接続が形成される。 If overall displaying one image to the multi-panel display device 150A, the controller 50, prior to the writing of the image of the first display panel 10D 1, the output terminal of the display signal driver 40 s (scanning signal in this case an output terminal of the driver 40g also) and supplied to the circuit 30A switches the switching signal for electrically connecting a first display panel 10D. Switching circuit 30A is by switching the connection destination of the plurality of switches 32A, the electrical connection between the output terminal and the first display panel 10D 1 of the display signal driver 40s is formed.
　また、コントローラ５０は、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に表示すべき画像（画像ブロックということがある。）に対応した画像信号を表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給する。なお、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に表示すべき画像ブロックは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに表示させるべき１つの画像を、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａにおける複数の表示パネル１０の配置および数に基づいて分割したときの複数の画像ブロックの内の１つであり、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａにおける第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1の位置に対応した画像ブロックである。 The controller 50 is supplied to the first display panel 10D 1 (sometimes referred to as an image block.) Image to be displayed on the display signal driver 40s image signals corresponding to. The image block to be displayed on the first display panel 10D 1 is obtained by dividing one image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150A based on the arrangement and number of the plurality of display panels 10 in the multi-panel display device 150A. when one of a plurality of image blocks, an image block corresponding to the first position of the display panel 10D 1 in the multi-panel display device 150A.
　画像信号を受け取った表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓは、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に表示信号を供給する。このとき、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1の走査線が順次選択されていくことにより、各走査線に関連付けられた画素ＴＦＴが順次オン状態とされ、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に画像（１番目の画像ブロック）が書き込まれる。 Display signal driver 40s which has received the image signal, supplies a display signal to the first display panel 10D 1. At this time, the scanning lines of the first display panel 10D 1 are sequentially selected, so that the pixel TFTs associated with the respective scanning lines are sequentially turned on, and an image (first image) is displayed on the first display panel 10D 1. Block) is written.
　次に、コントローラ５０は、切り替え回路３０Ａに切り替え信号を供給し、これにより、複数のスイッチ３２Ａの接続先が第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2に切り替えられる（図１参照）。すなわち、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1との間の電気的な接続が解除され、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2との間の電気的な接続が確立される。 Next, the controller 50 supplies a switching signal to the switching circuit 30A, thereby, the connection destination of the plurality of switches 32A is switched to the second display panel 10D 2 (see FIG. 1). That is, the electrical connection between the output terminal and the first display panel 10D 1 of the display signal driver 40s is released, electrical between the output terminal and the second display panel 10D 2 of the display signal driver 40s Connection is established.
　コントローラ５０は、第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2に表示すべき画像ブロック（２番目の画像ブロック）に対応した画像信号を表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給する。画像信号を受け取った表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓは、第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2に表示信号を供給する。これにより、第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2に画像（２番目の画像ブロック）が書き込まれる。なお、ＴＦＦ型液晶表示パネルの垂直走査期間は典型的には（１／６０）秒であるので、ここでは、１Ｆ期間はおよそ（１／６０）秒であると考えてよい。 The controller 50 supplies an image signal corresponding to the image block to be displayed on the second display panel 10D 2 (2-th image blocks) to the display signal driver 40 s. Display signal driver 40s which has received the image signal, supplies a display signal to the second display panel 10D 2. Thus, the image (the second image block) is written to the second display panel 10D 2. Note that since the vertical scanning period of the TFF type liquid crystal display panel is typically (1/60) second, the 1F period may be considered to be approximately (1/60) second here.
　第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2への画像（２番目の画像ブロック）の書き込みが終了すると、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2との間の電気的な接続が解除され、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と第３表示パネル１０Ｄ3との間の電気的な接続が確立される。また、コントローラ５０から、第３表示パネル１０Ｄ3に表示すべき画像ブロック（３番目の画像ブロック）に対応した画像信号が表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓに供給される。このように、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａでは、コントローラ５０からの切り替え信号および表示信号の供給が同期して行われることにより、複数のスイッチ３２Ａの接続先が順次切り替えられるとともに、表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれに、表示すべき画像に対応した表示信号が順次供給される。すなわち、表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれに、１番目の画像ブロック、２番目の画像ブロック、…およびＮ番目の画像ブロックが順次書き込まれる。このように、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａでは、第１～第Ｎ表示パネルに、１枚ずつ１Ｆ期間ごとに順次に、画像が書き込まれる。 When the writing of the image (the second image block) to the second display panel 10D 2 is completed, the electrical connection between the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s and the second display panel 10D 2 is released, the display electrical connection between the output terminal and the third display panel 10D 3 of signal driver 40s is established. Further, the controller 50, the image signal corresponding to the image block to be displayed on the third display panel 10D 3 (3-th image blocks) are supplied to the display signal driver 40 s. As described above, in the multi-display system 100A, the switching signal and the display signal from the controller 50 are supplied in synchronization, whereby the connection destinations of the plurality of switches 32A are sequentially switched and the display panels 10D 1 , 10D 2 each of ... and 10D N, display signal corresponding to an image to be displayed is sequentially supplied. That is, each of the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and 10D N, 1-th image blocks, the second image block, the ... and N-th image blocks are sequentially written. As described above, in the multi-panel display device 150A, images are sequentially written on the first to Nth display panels one by one every 1F period.
　ここで、表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれの表示維持期間は、およそ１秒である（駆動周波数：１Ｈｚ）。一方、図１に例示した構成ではＮ＝１３であるから、期間ＮＦは、１３×（１／６０）秒である。すなわち、画像が書き込まれた表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０ＤNのそれぞれは、期間ＮＦ以上の所定の期間（ここではおよそ１秒）にわたって画像を表示し続けるので、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに１つの大きな画像を表示させることができる。 Here, the display panel 10D 1, 10D 2, ... and each of the display sustain period of 10D N is approximately 1 second (driving frequency: 1 Hz). On the other hand, since N = 13 in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the period NF is 13 × (1/60) seconds. That is, the display panel 10D in which the image is written 1, 10D 2, each of ... and 10D N, since the period NF or more predetermined period (here, approximately one second) continues to display the image over a multi-panel display device 150A One large image can be displayed.
　第１～第Ｎ表示パネル１０Ｄ1～１０ＤNに順次に画像を書き込んだ後、所定の期間（ここではおよそ１秒）の経過後に、上述した動作が再び行われる。このことをより詳細に説明する。まず、初めの（１／６０）秒間において第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に１番目の画像ブロックが書き込まれ、次の（１／６０）秒間において第２表示パネル１０Ｄ2に２番目の画像ブロックが書き込まれる。その後、表示パネル１０Ｄ3、１０Ｄ4、…および１０Ｄ13のそれぞれに、対応する画像ブロックが順次書き込まれていき、（１３／６０）秒が経過すると、全ての表示パネル１０Ｄ1、１０Ｄ2、…および１０Ｄ13への、対応する画像ブロックの書き込みが終了する。そして、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1への画像ブロックの書き込みが開始されてから１秒後に、第１表示パネル１０Ｄ1に再び画像ブロックが書き込まれる。その後、表示パネル１０Ｄ2、１０Ｄ3、…および１０Ｄ13のそれぞれに、対応する画像ブロックが順次書き込まれる。すなわち、各表示パネル１０には、１秒ごとに、対応する画像ブロックの書き込みが行われ、各表示パネル１０は、対応する画像ブロックが書き込まれた後の（５９／６０）秒の間、表示信号が印加されずに休止されている。各表示パネルは、この休止期間においても、対応する画像ブロックを表示し続けている。 After sequentially writes the image to the first to N display panel 10D 1 to 10D N, predetermined period (here, approximately one second) after the elapse of the above-mentioned operation is performed again. This will be described in more detail. First, the first image block is written on the first display panel 10D 1 in the first (1/60) second, and the second image block is written on the second display panel 10D 2 in the next (1/60) second. It is. Thereafter, the corresponding image blocks are sequentially written in each of the display panels 10D 3 , 10D 4 ,..., And 10D 13 , and when (13/60) seconds elapse, all the display panels 10D 1 , 10D 2 ,. And the writing of the corresponding image block to 10D 13 is completed. Then, the writing of the image block of the first display panel 10D 1 is started after one second, again the image block to the first display panel 10D 1 is written. Thereafter, corresponding image blocks are sequentially written on each of the display panels 10D 2 , 10D 3 ,..., And 10D 13 . That is, each display panel 10 is written with a corresponding image block every second, and each display panel 10 displays for (59/60) seconds after the corresponding image block is written. The signal is not applied and is paused. Each display panel continues to display the corresponding image block even during this idle period.
　したがって、第１～第Ｎ表示パネル１０Ｄ1～１０ＤNに順次に画像を書き込むという動作を一定周期（ここでは１秒（１Ｈｚ駆動））で連続的に繰り返すことにより、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに１つの大きな画像を表示させ続けることができる。なお、低消費電力の観点から、第１～第Ｎ表示パネル１０Ｄ1～１０ＤNに順次に画像を書き込んだ後、再度第１～第Ｎ表示パネル１０Ｄ1～１０ＤNに順次に画像が書き込まれるまでの期間が１秒以上であることが好ましい。 Accordingly, the multi-panel display device 150A has a 1 by sequentially repeating the operation of sequentially writing images on the first to Nth display panels 10D 1 to 10D N at a constant period (here, 1 second (1 Hz drive)). One large image can continue to be displayed. In view of low power consumption, after writing the sequentially image to the first to N display panel 10D 1 to 10D N, is sequentially image to the first to N display panel 10D 1 to 10D N again written It is preferable that the period until is 1 second or more.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａでは、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれとの間の電気的な接続が順次切り替えられることにより、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに、対応した表示信号が順次供給される。本発明の実施形態によると、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａが有する複数の表示パネル１０の総数より少ない数の表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓが用いられるので、低コストのマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａを提供することができる。また、複数の表示パネル１０より少ない数のコントローラ５０および／または走査信号用ドライバ４０ｇを用いて画像の書き込みを行うこともでき、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａにおける部品数の増加を抑制できる。さらに、画素ＴＦＴとして、酸化物半導体層を有するＴＦＴを用いることにより、個々の表示パネル１０における画像の書き込みの周期を１～数秒程度とでき、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａを低消費電力とできる。 In the multi-display system 100A according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and each of the plurality of display panels 10 is sequentially switched, thereby corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10. The displayed signals are sequentially supplied. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the number of display signal drivers 40s smaller than the total number of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150A is used, a low-cost multi-display system 100A can be provided. Further, it is possible to write an image using a smaller number of controllers 50 and / or scanning signal drivers 40g than the plurality of display panels 10, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of components in the multi-display system 100A. Further, by using a TFT having an oxide semiconductor layer as the pixel TFT, the image writing period in each display panel 10 can be set to about 1 to several seconds, and the multi-display system 100A can have low power consumption.
　ここで、図２を参照して、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに用いられる表示パネル１０の詳細な構成を説明する。 Here, a detailed configuration of the display panel 10 used in the multi-panel display device 150A will be described with reference to FIG.
　図２（ａ）～（ｅ）は、複数の表示パネル１０の内の１つ（ここでは表示パネル１０Ｄ1）を示す。図２（ａ）および（ｂ）は、それぞれ、正面図および側面図を示す。図２（ａ）および（ｂ）に示すように、表示パネル１０Ｄ1は、上基板４および下基板２を有している。上基板４と下基板２との間には、表示媒体層（例えば液晶層、不図示）が設けられる。下基板２は、例えば画素ＴＦＴや画素電極を有し、上基板４は、例えばカラーフィルタ層や対向電極を有する。 2A to 2E show one of the plurality of display panels 10 (here, the display panel 10D 1 ). 2 (a) and 2 (b) show a front view and a side view, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display panel 10 </ b> D 1 has an upper substrate 4 and a lower substrate 2. A display medium layer (for example, a liquid crystal layer, not shown) is provided between the upper substrate 4 and the lower substrate 2. The lower substrate 2 has, for example, pixel TFTs and pixel electrodes, and the upper substrate 4 has, for example, a color filter layer and a counter electrode.
　表示パネル１０Ｄ1が有する画素ＴＦＴは、酸化物半導体層を有するＴＦＴであり得る。酸化物半導体層は、例えばＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系の半導体（以下、「Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体」と略する。）を含む。ここで、Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体は、Ｉｎ（インジウム）、Ｇａ（ガリウム）、Ｚｎ（亜鉛）の三元系酸化物であって、Ｉｎ、ＧａおよびＺｎの割合（組成比）は特に限定されず、例えばＩｎ：Ｇａ：Ｚｎ＝２：２：１、Ｉｎ：Ｇａ：Ｚｎ＝１：１：１、Ｉｎ：Ｇａ：Ｚｎ＝１：１：２等を含む。本実施形態では、酸化物半導体層は、Ｉｎ、Ｇａ、Ｚｎを、例えばＩｎ：Ｇａ：Ｚｎ＝１：１：１の割合で含むＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体層であってもよい。 The pixel TFT included in the display panel 10D 1 may be a TFT including an oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes, for example, an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor (hereinafter abbreviated as “In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor”). Here, the In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is a ternary oxide of In (indium), Ga (gallium), and Zn (zinc), and the ratio (composition ratio) of In, Ga, and Zn is It is not specifically limited, For example, In: Ga: Zn = 2: 2: 1, In: Ga: Zn = 1: 1: 1, In: Ga: Zn = 1: 1: 2, etc. are included. In this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor layer may be an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor layer containing In, Ga, and Zn at a ratio of, for example, In: Ga: Zn = 1: 1: 1.
　Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体層を有するＴＦＴは、高い移動度（ａ－ＳｉＴＦＴに比べ２０倍超）および低いリーク電流（ａ－ＳｉＴＦＴに比べ１００分の１未満）を有しているので、駆動ＴＦＴおよび画素ＴＦＴとして好適に用いられる。Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体層を有するＴＦＴを用いれば、マルチディスプレイシステムの消費電力を大幅に削減することが可能になる。 A TFT having an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor layer has high mobility (more than 20 times that of an a-Si TFT) and low leakage current (less than one hundredth of that of an a-Si TFT). It is suitably used as a drive TFT and a pixel TFT. If a TFT having an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor layer is used, the power consumption of the multi-display system can be significantly reduced.
　Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体は、アモルファスでもよいし、結晶質部分を含み、結晶性を有していてもよい。結晶質Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体としては、ｃ軸が層面に概ね垂直に配向した結晶質Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体が好ましい。このようなＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体の結晶構造は、例えば、特開２０１２－１３４４７５号公報に開示されている。参考のために、特開２０１２－１３４４７５号公報の開示内容の全てを本明細書に援用する。 The In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor may be amorphous, may include a crystalline portion, and may have crystallinity. As the crystalline In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor, a crystalline In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor in which the c-axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the layer surface is preferable. Such a crystal structure of an In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-134475. For reference, the entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-134475 is incorporated herein by reference.
　酸化物半導体層は、Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体の代わりに、他の酸化物半導体を含んでいてもよい。例えばＺｎ－Ｏ系半導体（ＺｎＯ）、Ｉｎ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体（ＩＺＯ（登録商標））、Ｚｎ－Ｔｉ－Ｏ系半導体（ＺＴＯ）、Ｃｄ－Ｇｅ－Ｏ系半導体、Ｃｄ－Ｐｂ－Ｏ系半導体、ＣｄＯ（酸化カドニウム）、Ｍｇ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体、Ｉｎ－Ｓｎ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体（例えばＩｎ2Ｏ3－ＳｎＯ2－ＺｎＯ）、Ｉｎ－Ｇａ－Ｓｎ－Ｏ系半導体などを含んでいてもよい。 The oxide semiconductor layer may include another oxide semiconductor instead of the In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor. For example, Zn—O based semiconductor (ZnO), In—Zn—O based semiconductor (IZO (registered trademark)), Zn—Ti—O based semiconductor (ZTO), Cd—Ge—O based semiconductor, Cd—Pb—O based Including semiconductors, CdO (cadmium oxide), Mg—Zn—O based semiconductors, In—Sn—Zn—O based semiconductors (eg, In 2 O 3 —SnO 2 —ZnO), In—Ga—Sn—O based semiconductors, etc. You may go out.
　表示パネル１０Ｄ1は、さらに、上基板４の上方に配置された偏光板（不図示）および下基板２の下方に配置された偏光板（不図示）を有する。表示パネル１０Ｄ1は、必要に応じて、位相差板等の種々の光学シートをさらに有し得る。また、表示パネル１０Ｄ1の下方には、必要に応じてバックライト装置が設けられる。 The display panel 10D 1 further includes a polarizing plate (not shown) arranged above the upper substrate 4 and a polarizing plate (not shown) arranged below the lower substrate 2. The display panel 10D 1 may further include various optical sheets such as a phase difference plate as necessary. Further, a backlight device is provided below the display panel 10D 1 as necessary.
　図２（ａ）および（ｂ）に示したように、表示パネル１０Ｄ1の額縁領域（表示に寄与しない領域）には、端子領域２ｅが形成される。端子領域２ｅには、個々の表示パネル１０に画像を表示させるための各種の信号（走査信号、表示信号等）を入力するための配線および端子が設けられる。端子領域２ｅには、例えば、後述するコネクタ２０Ａと接続するための接続部が形成された、フレキシブル基板ＦＰＣ２が取り付けられる。 As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and (b), in the frame region of the display panel 10D 1 (a region that does not contribute to the display), the terminal region 2e is formed. In the terminal area 2e, wiring and terminals for inputting various signals (scanning signals, display signals, etc.) for displaying images on the individual display panels 10 are provided. For example, a flexible substrate FPC2 in which a connection portion for connecting to a connector 20A described later is formed is attached to the terminal region 2e.
　図２（ｃ）～（ｅ）に示すように、表示パネル１０Ｄ1は、典型的には、額縁領域を覆うベゼル６を有し、フレキシブル基板ＦＰＣ２の接続部は、ベゼル６に設けられた開口部を介してベゼル６の外部に引き出される。図２（ｃ）、（ｄ）および（ｅ）は、それぞれ、正面図、側面図および背面図を示している。ベゼル６の外部に引き出された接続部には、表示パネル１０Ｄ1と共通モジュール部分２５０Ａとを電気的に接続するためのコネクタ２０Ａが接続される。コネクタ２０Ａは、典型的には、接続部に対して着脱自在に構成される。 As shown in FIGS. 2C to 2E, the display panel 10D 1 typically has a bezel 6 that covers the frame region, and a connection portion of the flexible substrate FPC2 is an opening provided in the bezel 6. It is pulled out of the bezel 6 through the section. 2C, 2D, and 2E respectively show a front view, a side view, and a rear view. A connector 20 </ b> A for electrically connecting the display panel 10 </ b> D 1 and the common module portion 250 </ b> A is connected to the connection portion drawn out of the bezel 6. The connector 20A is typically configured to be detachable from the connection portion.
　上述したように、表示パネル１０Ｄ1として、上述のＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体層を有するＴＦＴを備えた液晶表示パネルを用いることができる。表示モードとしては、Ｖｅｒｔｉｃａｌ　Ａｌｉｇｎｍｅｎｔ（ＶＡ）モード、Ｔｗｉｓｔｅｄ　Ｎｅｍａｔｉｃ（ＴＮ）モード、Ｏｐｔｉｃａｌ　Ｃｏｍｐｅｎｓａｔｅｄ　Ｂｅｎｄ（ＯＣＢ）モード、さらには、Ｉｎ－Ｐｌａｎｅ　Ｓｗｉｔｃｈｉｎｇ（ＩＰＳ）モードやＦｒｉｎｇｅ　Ｆｉｅｌｄ　Ｓｗｉｔｃｈｉｎｇ（ＦＦＳ）モード、Ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒ　Ｎｅｔｗｏｒｋ　Ｌｉｑｕｉｄ　Ｃｒｙｓｔａｌ（ＰＮＬＣ）モード（Ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒ　Ｄｉｓｐｅｒｓｅｄ　Ｌｉｑｕｉｄ　Ｃｒｙｓｔａｌ（ＰＤＬＣ）モードとも呼ばれる。）、コレステリック液晶モードを例示することができる。ＰＮＬＣモードやコレステリック液晶モードは、周囲光を用いた反射型の表示が可能であり、バックライトなどの照明装置を必要としないという点においても、低消費電力化に有利である。 As described above, it can be used as a display panel 10D 1, the liquid crystal display panel with a TFT having an In-Ga-Zn-O-based semiconductor layer mentioned above. Display modes include Vertical Alignment (VA) mode, Twisted Nematic (TN) mode, Optical Compensated Bend (OCB) mode, In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode, and Ringe Field FF switching mode. Examples thereof include a Crystal (PNLC) mode (also referred to as a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) mode) and a cholesteric liquid crystal mode. The PNLC mode and the cholesteric liquid crystal mode are advantageous in reducing power consumption in that a reflective display using ambient light is possible and an illumination device such as a backlight is not required.
　マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ａに用いられる表示パネル１０は、メモリ性を有することが好ましい。「メモリ性を有する」とは、画像の書き込みのために電圧が一旦印加された後には、さらに電圧を供給することなく（リフレッシュ）することなく、画像を表示し続ける（表示状態を維持する）ことができることをいう。また、表示パネル１０がメモリ性を有する場合には、パッシブマトリクス駆動も採用し得る。例えば、コレステリック液晶表示パネルは、メモリ性（らせんの軸が縦向きか横向きで安定する双安定性）を有し、ＴＦＴなどのスイッチング素子を用いないパッシブマトリクス駆動を採用することもできる。 The display panel 10 used in the multi-panel display device 150A preferably has a memory property. “Having a memory property” means that after a voltage is once applied for writing an image, the image is continuously displayed (the display state is maintained) without further supplying a voltage (refreshing). It can be done. Further, when the display panel 10 has a memory property, passive matrix driving can also be employed. For example, a cholesteric liquid crystal display panel has a memory property (bistability in which the axis of the helix is stable in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction), and can employ passive matrix driving that does not use a switching element such as a TFT.
　上記の実施形態では、表示パネル１０として液晶表示パネルを用いたマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａを例示しているが、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａに用いられる表示パネル１０は、これに限られない。表示パネル１０の他の例は、電気泳動表示パネル、誘電泳動表示パネル、ＭＥＭＳ（Ｍｉｃｒｏ　Ｅｌｅｃｔｒｏ　Ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｃａｌ　Ｓｙｓｔｅｍ）表示パネル、エレクトロウェッティング表示パネル、エレクトロクロミック表示パネル等である。 In the above embodiment, the multi-display system 100A using a liquid crystal display panel is illustrated as the display panel 10. However, the display panel 10 used in the multi-display system 100A according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. . Other examples of the display panel 10 include an electrophoretic display panel, a dielectrophoretic display panel, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) display panel, an electrowetting display panel, and an electrochromic display panel.
　電気泳動表示パネルとしては、例えば、マイクロカプセル型の電気泳動表示パネル、電子粉粒体を用いた方式の電気泳動表示パネル等を用いることができる。 As the electrophoretic display panel, for example, a microcapsule type electrophoretic display panel, an electrophoretic display panel using an electronic powder, or the like can be used.
　誘電泳動表示パネルとしては、フレーク型表示パネルを挙げることができる。ここでは、フレーク型表示パネルとは、形状異方性を有する粒子（フレーク）を含む縣濁液層を表示媒体層として有する表示パネルのことをいう。このような表示パネルは、例えば、米国特許６６６５０４２号明細書に開示されている。また、本願の出願人は、ＰＣＴ／ＪＰ２０１４／０５４８９７号に、メモリ性を有するフレーク型表示パネルを開示している。参考のために、米国特許６６６５０４２号明細書およびＰＣＴ／ＪＰ２０１４／０５４８９７号の開示内容の全てを本明細書に援用する。 Examples of the dielectrophoretic display panel include a flake type display panel. Here, the flake type display panel refers to a display panel having a suspension liquid layer containing particles (flakes) having shape anisotropy as a display medium layer. Such a display panel is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 6,665,042. The applicant of the present application discloses a flake type display panel having a memory property in PCT / JP2014 / 054897. For reference, the entire disclosures of US Pat. No. 6,665,042 and PCT / JP2014 / 054897 are hereby incorporated by reference.
　ＭＥＭＳ表示パネルとしては、例えば、国際公開第２００７／０７５８３２号に記載のものや米国特許５８３５２５５号明細書に記載のものを用いることができる。国際公開第２００７／０７５８３２号には、アクチュエータに結合されたシャッタの移動により、アパーチャを通過する光を制御して画像を形成するＭＥＭＳ表示パネルが開示されている。米国特許５８３５２５５号明細書には、入射光の干渉性をマイクロマシン駆動で変調する方式が開示されている。参考のために、国際公開第２００７／０７５８３２号および米国特許５８３５２５５号明細書の開示内容の全てを本明細書に援用する。 As the MEMS display panel, for example, the one described in International Publication No. 2007/075832 or the one described in US Pat. No. 5,835,255 can be used. International Publication No. 2007/075832 discloses a MEMS display panel that forms an image by controlling light passing through an aperture by moving a shutter coupled to an actuator. US Pat. No. 5,835,255 discloses a method for modulating the coherence of incident light by micromachine driving. For reference, the entire disclosures of WO 2007/075832 and US Pat. No. 5,835,255 are incorporated herein by reference.
　エレクトロウェッティング表示パネルとしては、例えば、米国特許７４６３３９８号明細書に記載のものを用いることができる。参考のために、米国特許７４６３３９８号明細書の開示内容の全てを本明細書に援用する。 As the electrowetting display panel, for example, the one described in US Pat. No. 7,463,398 can be used. For reference purposes, the entire disclosure of US Pat. No. 7,463,398 is incorporated herein by reference.
　エレクトロクロミック表示パネルとしては、例えば、特開２００６－２２７３８８号公報に記載のものを用いることができる。参考のために、特開２００６－２２７３８８号公報の開示内容の全てを本明細書に援用する。 As the electrochromic display panel, for example, the one described in JP-A-2006-227388 can be used. For reference, the entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-227388 is incorporated herein by reference.
　なお、電気泳動表示パネル、誘電泳動表示パネル、ＭＥＭＳ表示パネル、エレクトロウェッティング表示パネル、エレクトロクロミック表示パネルのいずれも、周囲光を用いた反射型の表示が可能である。上記の、電気泳動表示パネル、誘電泳動表示パネル、ＭＥＭＳ表示パネル、エレクトロウェッティング表示パネル、エレクトロクロミック表示パネルのそれぞれの中には、メモリ性を有するものも知られている。 Note that any of the electrophoretic display panel, the dielectrophoretic display panel, the MEMS display panel, the electrowetting display panel, and the electrochromic display panel can perform a reflective display using ambient light. Among the electrophoretic display panel, dielectrophoretic display panel, MEMS display panel, electrowetting display panel, and electrochromic display panel, those having a memory property are also known.
　次に、図３を参照して、本発明の他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムを説明する。図３は、本発明の他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｂの模式図である。 Next, a multi-display system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100B according to another embodiment of the present invention.
　マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｂは、図１に示したマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ａと比べ、複数の表示パネル１０ｍのそれぞれが、基板（典型的には下基板）上に一体的に形成された走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇを有する点において異なっている。すなわち、図３に例示する構成において、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｂが有する複数の表示パネル１０ｍのそれぞれは、駆動回路の少なくとも一部（ここでは走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇ）が表示パネルに一体に形成されたドライバモノリシック型表示パネルである。 Compared to the multi-display system 100A shown in FIG. 1, the multi-display system 100B includes a scanning signal driver 40Bg in which each of the plurality of display panels 10m is integrally formed on a substrate (typically a lower substrate). It is different in having. That is, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of display panels 10 m included in the multi-panel display device 150 </ b> B has at least a part of the drive circuit (here, the scanning signal driver 40 </ b> Bg) formed integrally with the display panel. This is a driver monolithic display panel.
　マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｂでは、複数の表示パネル１０ｍのそれぞれが、基板上に一体的に形成された走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇを有するので、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｂの部品数を削減できる。また、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと複数の表示パネル１０ｍの内の１つとの間に電気的な接続を切り替えるための複数のスイッチ３２Ｂの数を削減することができ、切り替え回路３０Ｂを、図１に示した切り替え回路３０Ａよりも簡易な構成とすることができる。さらに、コネクタ２０Ｂの数を削減することができる。 In the multi-display system 100B, since each of the plurality of display panels 10m has the scanning signal driver 40Bg integrally formed on the substrate, the number of components of the common module portion 250B can be reduced. Further, the number of the plurality of switches 32B for switching the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10m can be reduced, and the switching circuit 30B is shown in FIG. The configuration can be simpler than the illustrated switching circuit 30A. Furthermore, the number of connectors 20B can be reduced.
　マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｂにおいては、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと複数の表示パネル１０ｍの内の１つとの間の電気的な接続が順次切り替えられることにより、複数の表示パネル１０ｍに対して順次に画像（画像ブロック）の書き込みが行われる。表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓと電気的に接続された表示パネル１０ｍにおける走査線には、走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇから所定の信号電圧（走査信号電圧）が所定のタイミングで供給され、データ信号線には、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓから所定の信号電圧（表示信号電圧）が所定のタイミングで供給される。なお、走査信号電圧の供給と表示信号電圧の供給とを同期させるための同期信号は、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｂから供給される。 In the multi-display system 100B, the electrical connection between the display signal driver 40s and one of the plurality of display panels 10m is sequentially switched, so that images (images) are sequentially displayed on the plurality of display panels 10m. Block) is written. A scanning signal in the display panel 10m electrically connected to the display signal driver 40s is supplied with a predetermined signal voltage (scanning signal voltage) from the scanning signal driver 40Bg at a predetermined timing. A predetermined signal voltage (display signal voltage) is supplied from the display signal driver 40s at a predetermined timing. Note that a synchronization signal for synchronizing the supply of the scanning signal voltage and the supply of the display signal voltage is supplied from the common module portion 250B.
　モノリシック型表示パネルは、狭額縁であり、且つ、低コストであるという利点を有する。図３では、走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇが基板上に一体的に形成された構成を例示したが、この例に限られない。走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇに代えて、または走査信号用ドライバ４０Ｂｇとともに、ＴＦＴ等を含む他の回路を基板上に一体的に形成してもよい。例えば、走査信号用ドライバ、表示信号用ドライバ、共通電圧用ドライバ、タイミングジェネレータ、電源回路、記憶素子（例えばＳＲＡＭ（Ｓｔａｔｉｃ　Ｒａｎｄｏｍ　Ａｃｃｅｓｓ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｙ））等が基板上に一体的に形成されてもよい。駆動ＴＦＴの半導体層としては、アモルファスシリコン（ａ－Ｓｉ）、酸化物半導体（例えばＩｎ－Ｇａ－Ｚｎ－Ｏ系半導体）、多結晶シリコン（典型的には低温ポリシリコン（ＬＴＰＳ））または連続粒界結晶シリコン（ＣＧＳ：Ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｏｕｓ　Ｇｒａｉｎ　Ｓｉｌｉｃｏｎ）を用いることができる。ＴＦＴの半導体層は、要求される移動度の大きさに応じて適宜選択される。例えば、走査信号用ドライバを基板上に一体的に形成する場合、ａ－Ｓｉ、酸化物半導体、ＬＴＰＳまたはＣＧＳのいずれも適用可能である。例えば、表示信号用ドライバ、共通電圧用ドライバ、タイミングジェネレータ、電源回路またはＳＲＡＭを基板上に一体的に形成する場合には、ＬＴＰＳまたはＣＧＳを選択することができる。 Monolithic display panels have the advantage of a narrow frame and low cost. Although FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration in which the scanning signal driver 40Bg is integrally formed on the substrate, the present invention is not limited to this example. Instead of the scanning signal driver 40Bg or together with the scanning signal driver 40Bg, another circuit including a TFT or the like may be integrally formed on the substrate. For example, a scanning signal driver, a display signal driver, a common voltage driver, a timing generator, a power supply circuit, a storage element (for example, SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)), and the like may be integrally formed on the substrate. As the semiconductor layer of the driving TFT, amorphous silicon (a-Si), oxide semiconductor (for example, In—Ga—Zn—O-based semiconductor), polycrystalline silicon (typically low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS)), or continuous grain Boundary crystal silicon (CGS: Continuous Grain Silicon) can be used. The semiconductor layer of the TFT is appropriately selected according to the required mobility. For example, when the scanning signal driver is integrally formed on the substrate, any of a-Si, an oxide semiconductor, LTPS, or CGS is applicable. For example, when a display signal driver, a common voltage driver, a timing generator, a power supply circuit, or an SRAM are integrally formed on a substrate, LTPS or CGS can be selected.
　図４に、各画素ＰｉｘがＳＲＡＭ１２を有する液晶表示パネル１０ｓの１画素の構成を模式的に示す。記憶素子としては、書き換え可能で、かつ、リフレッシュが不要なメモリであればよく、ＳＲＡＭの他、強誘電体メモリ（ＦｅＲＡＭ（Ｆｅｒｒｏｅｌｅｃｔｒｉｃ　Ｒａｎｄｏｍ　Ａｃｃｅｓｓ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｙ））などの不揮発メモリを用いることもできる。 FIG. 4 schematically shows a configuration of one pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 10 s in which each pixel Pix includes the SRAM 12. As the memory element, any memory that can be rewritten and does not need to be refreshed may be used. A nonvolatile memory such as a ferroelectric memory (FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory)) may be used in addition to the SRAM.
　従来のＴＦＦ型液晶表示パネルでは、上述したように典型的には６０Ｈｚで駆動され、静止画を表示する場合も６０Ｈｚで駆動される。これに対し、図４に示す液晶表示パネル１０ｓは、静止画を表示する場合には、例えば１Ｈｚ程度の低い周波数で駆動することが可能で、消費電力が小さいという利点を有している。 Conventional TFF type liquid crystal display panels are typically driven at 60 Hz as described above, and are also driven at 60 Hz when displaying still images. On the other hand, the liquid crystal display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 has an advantage that, when displaying a still image, it can be driven at a low frequency of about 1 Hz, for example, and has low power consumption.
　図４に示す表示パネル１０ｓは、ＳＲＡＭ１２と、表示電圧供給回路１４とを有している。ＳＲＡＭ１２は、走査線Ｇおよびデータ信号線Ｓに接続されており、走査線Ｇが選択されると、データ信号線ＳのデータがＳＲＡＭ１２に記憶される。液晶容量１６の画素電極には、ＳＲＡＭ１２に記憶されたデータに応じた表示電圧（階調電圧）が、表示電圧供給回路１４から供給される。したがって、静止画を表示する場合には、ＳＲＡＭ１２のデータを書き換える必要がなく、その間、ＳＲＡＭ１２に記憶されたデータに応じた表示電圧が表示電圧供給回路１４から画素電極に印加され続ける。すなわち、表示する画像を変更する場合にだけ、駆動回路を動作させて、ＳＲＡＭ１２に記憶されたデータを書き換えればよい。ただし、液晶材料の劣化やフリッカの発生を防止するために、１Ｈｚ程度の周期で画素電極に印加する電圧の極性を反転させることが好ましい。 4 has an SRAM 12 and a display voltage supply circuit 14. The display panel 10s shown in FIG. The SRAM 12 is connected to the scanning line G and the data signal line S. When the scanning line G is selected, the data of the data signal line S is stored in the SRAM 12. A display voltage (gradation voltage) corresponding to data stored in the SRAM 12 is supplied from the display voltage supply circuit 14 to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal capacitor 16. Therefore, when displaying a still image, it is not necessary to rewrite the data in the SRAM 12, and during that time, a display voltage corresponding to the data stored in the SRAM 12 is continuously applied from the display voltage supply circuit 14 to the pixel electrode. That is, only when the image to be displayed is changed, the drive circuit is operated and the data stored in the SRAM 12 may be rewritten. However, in order to prevent the deterioration of the liquid crystal material and the occurrence of flicker, it is preferable to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixel electrode with a period of about 1 Hz.
　また、反射型の液晶表示パネルは、バックライトを必要としないので、さらに消費電力を低減できる。特に、反射状態と散乱状態とで黒と白とを表示するＰＮＬＣモードは、偏光板を必要としないので、光の利用効率が高く、また、視野角依存性が低いという利点を有している。このような液晶表示パネルは、メモリ液晶ディスプレイとして知られている（例えば、シャープ技報　第１００号・２０１０年２月、Ｐ．２３～２７参照）。 Also, since the reflective liquid crystal display panel does not require a backlight, the power consumption can be further reduced. In particular, the PNLC mode that displays black and white in the reflection state and the scattering state does not require a polarizing plate, and thus has an advantage of high light utilization efficiency and low viewing angle dependency. . Such a liquid crystal display panel is known as a memory liquid crystal display (see, for example, Sharp Technical Report No. 100, February 2010, pages 23 to 27).
　次に、図５～図７を参照して、本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムを説明する。図１および図３に例示した構成では、コントローラ、切り替え回路および表示信号用ドライバがマルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されていたが、図５～図７を参照して説明するように、これらの全てがマルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されていなくともよい。 Next, a multi-display system according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the controller, the switching circuit, and the display signal driver are arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device. However, as described with reference to FIGS. All of them may not be arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device.
　図５は、本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃの模式図である。図５に示すように、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃにおけるマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃは、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓおよび切り替え回路３０Ａを有している。すなわち、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃでは、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｃにおける表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓおよび切り替え回路３０Ａが、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃと一体に配置されている。一方、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｃにおけるコントローラ５０は、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃとは別個の画像信号供給装置２００Ｃに配置されている。 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100C according to still another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-panel display device 150C in the multi-display system 100C includes a display signal driver 40s and a switching circuit 30A. That is, in the multi-display system 100C, the display signal driver 40s and the switching circuit 30A in the common module portion 250C are arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device 150C. On the other hand, the controller 50 in the common module portion 250C is disposed in an image signal supply device 200C that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150C.
　図５に例示した構成では、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃに、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに対して着脱自在に構成されたコネクタ２２Ｃｃが設けられている。一方、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃには、コネクタ２２Ｃｃに対応してコネクタ２２Ｃｐが設けられている。したがって、コネクタ２２Ｃｃおよびコネクタ２２Ｃｐを介して画像信号供給装置２００Ｃとマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃとを接続することができる。これにより、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃと一体に配置された切り替え回路３０Ａに、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃに配置されたコントローラ５０からの切り替え信号および画像信号をそれぞれ供給することができ、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃが有する複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓからの表示信号を順次供給することができる。 In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, the image signal supply device 200C is provided with a connector 22Cc configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150C. On the other hand, the multi-panel display device 150C is provided with a connector 22Cp corresponding to the connector 22Cc. Therefore, the image signal supply device 200C and the multi-panel display device 150C can be connected via the connector 22Cc and the connector 22Cp. Accordingly, the switching signal and the image signal from the controller 50 disposed in the image signal supply device 200C can be respectively supplied to the switching circuit 30A disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150C, and the multi-panel display device 150C. The display signals from the display signal driver 40 s can be sequentially supplied to each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the display panel 10.
　ここで、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃにおける複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれには、典型的には、メモリ性を有する表示パネルが用いられる。複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれがメモリ性を有するので、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃでは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに表示させるべき画像を変更する必要が生じた時に、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃをマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに接続すればよい。すなわち、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに画像（画像ブロック）を順次書き込んだ後は、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃから画像信号供給装置２００Ｃを取り外しておくことができる。マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃには、図３に示した表示パネル１０ｍであってメモリ性を有するものや図４に示した表示パネル１０ｓも用いられ得る。 Here, for each of the plurality of display panels 10 in the multi-panel display device 150C, a display panel having a memory property is typically used. Since each of the plurality of display panels 10 has a memory property, in the multi-display system 100C, when the image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150C needs to be changed, the image signal supply device 200C is changed to the multi-panel display device 150C. Connect to That is, after sequentially writing images (image blocks) on each of the plurality of display panels 10, the image signal supply device 200C can be detached from the multi-panel display device 150C. As the multi-panel display device 150C, the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
　画像信号供給装置２００Ｃは、異なる場所に設置された２以上のマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃの間で共用することもできる。各マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃが有する複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置は、各マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃの間で異なり得る。表示パネル１０の配置には、それぞれの表示パネル１０の向き（例えば矩形状の表示パネル１０の場合、長辺が水平方向および垂直方向のどちらと平行であるか）も含まれる。このような場合には、複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置に応じて、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに対応した適切な画像ブロックの書き込みを行う必要がある。 The image signal supply device 200C can be shared between two or more multi-panel display devices 150C installed in different places. The total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 included in each multi-panel display device 150C may differ among the multi-panel display devices 150C. The arrangement of the display panels 10 includes the direction of each display panel 10 (for example, in the case of a rectangular display panel 10, the long side is parallel to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction). In such a case, it is necessary to write an appropriate image block corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 in accordance with the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10.
　そこで、例えば、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃがマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃと接続された時に、処理部６０が、複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置に関する情報をマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃから取得するようにしてもよい。または、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃの操作者が、複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置に関する情報を処理部６０に与えるようにしてもよい。このようにすることで、処理部６０は、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに対応した適切な入力映像信号をコントローラ５０に順次出力することができる。したがって、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれには、複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置に応じた適切な画像ブロックが書き込まれる。 Therefore, for example, when the image signal supply device 200C is connected to the multi-panel display device 150C, the processing unit 60 acquires information on the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 from the multi-panel display device 150C. May be. Alternatively, the operator of the image signal supply device 200 </ b> C may give the processing unit 60 information regarding the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10. In this way, the processing unit 60 can sequentially output appropriate input video signals corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 to the controller 50. Therefore, an appropriate image block corresponding to the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 is written in each of the plurality of display panels 10.
　画像の書き込みに必要な電力は、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃからマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに供給されてもよい。例えば、図５に示したように、画像信号供給装置２００Ｃが、電力供給部５２を有していてもよい。電力供給部５２は、例えば、二次電池やキャパシタ等の蓄電デバイスを含む。電力供給部５２は、外部電源（例えば商用電源）と画像信号供給装置２００Ｃとを接続するための回路であってもよい。 The power required for image writing may be supplied from the image signal supply device 200C to the multi-panel display device 150C. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the image signal supply device 200 </ b> C may include a power supply unit 52. The power supply unit 52 includes, for example, a power storage device such as a secondary battery or a capacitor. The power supply unit 52 may be a circuit for connecting an external power source (for example, a commercial power source) and the image signal supply device 200C.
　複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれがメモリ性を有すると、画像の変更時以外は、コントローラ５０を有する画像信号供給装置２００Ｃをマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに接続しておく必要がない。したがって、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃの部品数を削減でき、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃを設置するためのコストが低減される。また、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは、画像の変更時以外はほとんど電圧の供給を必要としないので、低消費電力化を図ることができる。画像の変更に必要な電力が画像信号供給装置２００Ｃから供給される場合には、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃに電源を接続しておく必要がないので、電源がない場所にもマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃを設置することができる。 If each of the plurality of display panels 10 has a memory property, it is not necessary to connect the image signal supply device 200C having the controller 50 to the multi-panel display device 150C except when changing the image. Therefore, the number of parts of the multi-panel display device 150C can be reduced, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150C can be reduced. In addition, since each of the plurality of display panels 10 requires almost no voltage supply except when an image is changed, the power consumption can be reduced. When power necessary for image change is supplied from the image signal supply device 200C, it is not necessary to connect a power source to the multi-panel display device 150C, so the multi-panel display device 150C can be installed in a place where there is no power source. Can be installed.
　図６は、本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄの模式図である。マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄは、図５に示したマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｃと比べ、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄが表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓを有しない点において異なっている。すなわち、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄでは、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｄの内、コントローラ５０および表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓが、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄとは別個のドライバ装置２００Ｄに配置され、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｄの内、切り替え回路３０Ａがマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄと一体に配置されている。なお、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄが有する複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは、典型的には、メモリ性を有する。マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄには、図３に示した表示パネル１０ｍであってメモリ性を有するものや図４に示した表示パネル１０ｓも用いられ得る。 FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100D according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The multi-display system 100D is different from the multi-display system 100C shown in FIG. 5 in that the multi-panel display device 150D does not have the display signal driver 40s. That is, in the multi-display system 100D, the controller 50 and the display signal driver 40s in the common module portion 250D are arranged in the driver device 200D that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150D, and the switching circuit in the common module portion 250D. 30A is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device 150D. Each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150D typically has a memory property. As the multi-panel display device 150D, the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
　ドライバ装置２００Ｄは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄに対して着脱自在に構成されたコネクタ２２Ｄｃを有する。コネクタ２２Ｄｃは、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と電気的に接続された複数の接続端子を有する。一方、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄには、コネクタ２２Ｄｃに対応してコネクタ２２Ｄｐが設けられる。コネクタ２２Ｄｃおよびコネクタ２２Ｄｐを介してドライバ装置２００Ｄとマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄとを接続することにより、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄと一体に配置された、複数のスイッチ３２Ａを有する切り替え回路３０Ａに、ドライバ装置２００Ｄに配置されたコントローラ５０からの切り替え信号を供給することができる。また、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄが有する複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに、切り替え回路３０Ａを介して、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓからの表示信号を順次供給することができる。 The driver device 200D has a connector 22Dc configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150D. The connector 22Dc has a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s. On the other hand, the multi-panel display device 150D is provided with a connector 22Dp corresponding to the connector 22Dc. By connecting the driver device 200D and the multi-panel display device 150D via the connector 22Dc and the connector 22Dp, the driver device 200D is connected to the switching circuit 30A having a plurality of switches 32A arranged integrally with the multi-panel display device 150D. A switching signal can be supplied from the controller 50 arranged in the circuit. In addition, the display signals from the display signal driver 40s can be sequentially supplied to each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150D via the switching circuit 30A.
　図６に例示した構成によれば、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄの部品数を図５に示したマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｃよりも削減でき、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄを設置するためのコストをより低減することができる。また、ドライバ装置２００Ｄは、図５に示した画像信号供給装置２００Ｃと同様に、２以上のマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄの間で共用することが可能である。 According to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, the number of parts of the multi-panel display device 150D can be reduced as compared to the multi-panel display device 150C illustrated in FIG. 5, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150D can be further reduced. Can do. Further, the driver device 200D can be shared between two or more multi-panel display devices 150D, similarly to the image signal supply device 200C shown in FIG.
　図７は、本発明のさらに他の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅの模式図である。マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅは、図６に示したマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄと比べ、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが切り替え回路３０Ａを有しない点において異なっている。すなわち、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅは、ドライバ装置２００Ｅが切り替え回路３０Ａをさらに備える点においてマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄと異なっている。図７に示すように、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅでは、コントローラ５０、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓおよび切り替え回路３０Ａが、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅとは別個のドライバ装置２００Ｅに配置されており、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅは、共通モジュール部分２５０Ｅを含まない。なお、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが有する複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは、典型的には、メモリ性を有する。マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅには、図３に示した表示パネル１０ｍであってメモリ性を有するものや図４に示した表示パネル１０ｓも用いられ得る。 FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a multi-display system 100E according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The multi-display system 100E is different from the multi-display system 100D shown in FIG. 6 in that the multi-panel display device 150E does not have the switching circuit 30A. That is, the multi-display system 100E is different from the multi-display system 100D in that the driver device 200E further includes a switching circuit 30A. As shown in FIG. 7, in the multi-display system 100E, the controller 50, the display signal driver 40s, and the switching circuit 30A are arranged in a driver device 200E that is separate from the multi-panel display device 150E. Does not include the common module portion 250E. Each of the plurality of display panels 10 included in the multi-panel display device 150E typically has a memory property. As the multi-panel display device 150E, the display panel 10m shown in FIG. 3 having a memory property or the display panel 10s shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
　図７に示したように、ドライバ装置２００Ｅは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅに対して着脱自在に構成されたコネクタ２２Ｅｃを有する。コネクタ２２Ｅｃは、表示信号用ドライバ４０ｓの出力端子と電気的に接続された複数の接続端子を有する。マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅは、コネクタ２２Ｅｃに対応したコネクタ２２Ｅｐを有する。したがって、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅに表示させるべき画像の変更時にドライバ装置２００Ｅとマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅとを接続し、画像の変更時以外は、ドライバ装置２００Ｅをマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅから取り外すことができる。 As shown in FIG. 7, the driver device 200E has a connector 22Ec configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device 150E. The connector 22Ec has a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to the output terminal of the display signal driver 40s. The multi-panel display device 150E has a connector 22Ep corresponding to the connector 22Ec. Therefore, the driver device 200E and the multi-panel display device 150E are connected when the image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device 150E is changed, and the driver device 200E can be detached from the multi-panel display device 150E except when the image is changed. .
　図７に例示した構成によれば、図６に示したマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｄと比べて、コネクタ２２Ｅｃおよびコネクタ２２Ｅｐにおける接続端子の数が多くなるものの、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅの部品数を図６に示したマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｄよりも削減でき、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅを設置するためのコストをより低減することができる。また、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが共通モジュール部分２５０Ｅを含まないので、ユーザは、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅを購入すれば、マルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅを利用することができる。画像の書き込みまたは変更は、ドライバ装置２００Ｅを所有する業者に依頼することができる。さらに、図７に例示した構成によれば、複数の表示パネル１０の総数および／または配置の変更も容易であり、より柔軟な運用が可能である。 According to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, the number of connection terminals in the connector 22 </ b> Ec and the connector 22 </ b> Ep is larger than that in the multi-display system 100 </ b> D illustrated in FIG. 6, but the number of components of the multi-panel display device 150 </ b> E is illustrated in FIG. The cost can be reduced more than the multi-panel display device 150D shown, and the cost for installing the multi-panel display device 150E can be further reduced. In addition, since the multi-panel display device 150E does not include the common module portion 250E, the user can use the multi-display system 100E by purchasing the multi-panel display device 150E. The writing or changing of the image can be requested from a supplier who owns the driver device 200E. Furthermore, according to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels 10 can be easily changed, and more flexible operation is possible.
　図８（ａ）および（ｂ）は、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムの応用例を説明するための図である。図８（ａ）および（ｂ）を参照して以下に説明するように、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムは、例えば建築物の内装材または外装材（これらをまとめて建材ということがある。）として利用することもできる。ここでは、図７に示したマルチディスプレイシステム１００Ｅを住居の内装に用いる場合を例示する。 FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining an application example of the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention may be, for example, an interior or exterior material of a building (these may be collectively referred to as a building material). .). Here, the case where the multi-display system 100E shown in FIG. 7 is used for the interior of a residence is illustrated.
　まず、図８（ａ）を参照する。図８（ａ）は、壁材（または壁紙）として、図７に示したマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが使用された部屋Ｒの壁を模式的に示す。図８（ａ）に示すように、部屋Ｒの壁面は、木材や石材等に代えて、複数の表示パネル１０が敷き詰められている。したがって、図８（ａ）に示した例では、部屋Ｒの壁面に、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが構成されている。また、例えば、窓にもマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅを使用することができる。図８（ａ）に示した窓Ｗの窓枠には、窓ガラスの代わりに複数の表示パネル１０が嵌めこまれている。ここでは、窓枠に嵌めこまれた複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれが、散乱状態または反射状態と透明状態とをスイッチングすることができる表示パネル（例えばＰＮＬＣモードの液晶表示パネルや誘電泳動表示パネル等）である場合を例示する。なお、壁または窓Ｗにおける複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは、典型的には、メモリ性を有する表示パネルであるが、例えば屋内配線と接続されることにより電力の供給が受けられるのであれば、複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれは、メモリ性を有していなくてもよい。 First, refer to FIG. FIG. 8A schematically shows a wall of a room R in which the multi-panel display device 150E shown in FIG. 7 is used as a wall material (or wallpaper). As shown in FIG. 8A, the wall surface of the room R is laid with a plurality of display panels 10 instead of wood or stone. Therefore, in the example illustrated in FIG. 8A, the multi-panel display device 150 </ b> E is configured on the wall surface of the room R. Further, for example, the multi-panel display device 150E can be used for a window. A plurality of display panels 10 are fitted in the window frame of the window W shown in FIG. 8A instead of the window glass. Here, each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame can switch between a scattering state or a reflection state and a transparent state (for example, a PNLC mode liquid crystal display panel, a dielectrophoretic display panel, etc. ). Each of the plurality of display panels 10 in the wall or the window W is typically a display panel having a memory property, but if power can be supplied by being connected to, for example, indoor wiring, Each of the plurality of display panels 10 may not have a memory property.
　図示されていないが、部屋Ｒの壁面を構成するマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅが有するコネクタ２２Ｅｐは、例えば、部屋Ｒの壁面の目立たないところに配置される。もちろん、コネクタ２２Ｅｐは、他の部屋の壁面等に配置されていてもよい。部屋Ｒの住人は、例えば部屋Ｒの壁面に配置されたコネクタ２２Ｅｐに、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅと対応するドライバ装置２００Ｅ（図７参照）を接続して、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅに画像の書き込み命令を与えることができる。これにより、壁面に敷き詰められた複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに対応した画像ブロックが、表示パネル１０に順次書き込まれる。例えば、図８（ａ）に示したように、壁一面に冬の景色を表示させることができる。このように、壁面等に、所望の画像、模様、パターン等を表示させることができる。 Although not shown, the connector 22Ep included in the multi-panel display device 150E constituting the wall surface of the room R is disposed, for example, in a place where the wall surface of the room R is not conspicuous. Of course, the connector 22Ep may be arranged on the wall surface of another room. The resident in the room R connects the driver device 200E (see FIG. 7) corresponding to the multi-panel display device 150E to the connector 22Ep arranged on the wall surface of the room R, for example, and writes an image write command to the multi-panel display device 150E. Can be given. As a result, image blocks corresponding to each of the plurality of display panels 10 spread on the wall surface are sequentially written on the display panel 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a winter scene can be displayed on the entire wall. Thus, a desired image, pattern, pattern, or the like can be displayed on the wall surface or the like.
　次に、図８（ｂ）を参照する。図８（ｂ）は、図８（ａ）に示した状態から、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅにおける画像を変更した後の状態を示している。 Next, refer to FIG. FIG. 8B shows a state after the image on the multi-panel display device 150E is changed from the state shown in FIG.
　例えば、部屋Ｒの住人は、部屋Ｒの壁面に配置されたコネクタ２２Ｅｐにドライバ装置２００Ｅを再度接続することにより、壁面に敷き詰められた複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれに表示されている画像ブロックを順次変更していくことができる。これにより、例えば、図８（ｂ）に示したように、壁一面に春の景色を表示させることができる。すなわち、部屋Ｒの住人は、必要に応じてマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅにおける画像を変更することによって、部屋Ｒの模様替えを容易に行うことができる。この場合において、部屋Ｒの住人は、部屋Ｒの模様替えに先立って、壁の手前に設置された机３００等の家具や家庭電化製品を移動する必要がない。また、コネクタ２２Ｅｐにドライバ装置２００Ｅを接続することができさえすれば、手の届かない箇所の模様替えも容易に行うことができる。 For example, the resident in the room R reconnects the driver device 200E to the connector 22Ep arranged on the wall surface of the room R, thereby sequentially displaying the image blocks displayed on each of the plurality of display panels 10 spread on the wall surface. It can be changed. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a spring scene can be displayed on the entire wall. That is, the resident of the room R can easily change the pattern of the room R by changing the image on the multi-panel display device 150E as necessary. In this case, the resident of the room R does not need to move furniture such as the desk 300 or home appliances installed in front of the wall before moving the room R. Further, as long as the driver device 200E can be connected to the connector 22Ep, it is possible to easily change the design of a part that cannot be reached.
　なお、図９（ａ）や図９（ｂ）にそれぞれ示すような構成を採用することにより、壁面にカラー画像を表示させることも可能である。図９（ａ）および（ｂ）は、それぞれ、観察者側の基板（例えば上基板４）にカラーフィルタＣＦが配置された表示パネル１０Ｄａおよび表示パネル１０Ｄｂの断面を模式的に示す図である。カラーフィルタＣＦは、例えば赤色フィルタＣＦｒ、緑色フィルタＣＦｇおよび青色フィルタＣＦｂを含む。図９（ａ）および（ｂ）は、赤色が表示された状態を模式的に示している。 In addition, it is also possible to display a color image on a wall surface by adopting a configuration as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, respectively. FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams each schematically showing a cross section of the display panel 10Da and the display panel 10Db in which the color filter CF is arranged on the observer-side substrate (for example, the upper substrate 4). The color filter CF includes, for example, a red filter CFr, a green filter CFg, and a blue filter CFb. FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically show a state in which red is displayed.
　図９（ａ）に例示した表示パネル１０Ｄａは、マイクロカプセル型の電気泳動表示パネルである。図９（ａ）に例示した構成において、一対の基板（上基板４および下基板２）の間に配置された表示媒体層３ａは、複数のマイクロカプセル３ｍｃを有する。各マイクロカプセル３ｍｃには、帯電した白色粒子（例えば酸化チタン）および帯電した黒色粒子（例えばカーボンブラック）が分散液とともに封入されている。不図示の電極に電圧を印加することにより一対の基板間に電場が与られると、マイクロカプセル３ｍｃ中の白色粒子および黒色粒子が電場の向きに応じて移動する。図９（ａ）に示したように、赤色フィルタＣＦｒに対応した位置にあるマイクロカプセル３ｍｃに対して、白色粒子がカラーフィルタＣＦ側（観察者側）に近づくような電場を与え、緑色フィルタＣＦｇに対応した位置および青色フィルタＣＦｂに対応した位置にあるマイクロカプセル３ｍｃに対して、黒色粒子がカラーフィルタＣＦ側に近づくような電場を与えれば、観察者には赤色が観察される。 The display panel 10Da illustrated in FIG. 9A is a microcapsule type electrophoretic display panel. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9A, the display medium layer 3a disposed between a pair of substrates (the upper substrate 4 and the lower substrate 2) has a plurality of microcapsules 3mc. In each microcapsule 3mc, charged white particles (for example, titanium oxide) and charged black particles (for example, carbon black) are enclosed together with the dispersion. When an electric field is applied between a pair of substrates by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown), white particles and black particles in the microcapsule 3mc move according to the direction of the electric field. As shown in FIG. 9A, an electric field is applied to the microcapsule 3mc at a position corresponding to the red filter CFr so that white particles approach the color filter CF side (observer side), and the green filter CFg If an electric field is applied to the microcapsule 3mc located at a position corresponding to the color filter CFb and a position corresponding to the blue filter CFb, red is observed by the observer.
　図９（ｂ）に例示した表示パネル１０Ｄｂは、フレーク型表示パネルである。図９（ｂ）に例示した構成において、一対の基板（上基板４および下基板２）の間に配置された表示媒体層３ｂには、液状の媒体が封止されており、媒体中には、光反射性を有する形状異方性粒子（フレーク）３ｆｋが分散されている。また、下基板２の表示媒体層３ｂ側には、液晶表示装置等のカラーフィルタに含まれるブラックマトリクスの材料などに用いられる顔料を含む光吸収層５が設けられている。 The display panel 10Db illustrated in FIG. 9B is a flake type display panel. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9B, a liquid medium is sealed in the display medium layer 3b disposed between the pair of substrates (the upper substrate 4 and the lower substrate 2). The shape anisotropic particles (flakes) 3fk having light reflectivity are dispersed. Further, on the display medium layer 3b side of the lower substrate 2, a light absorption layer 5 containing a pigment used for a black matrix material included in a color filter of a liquid crystal display device or the like is provided.
　不図示の電極に電圧を印加することにより一対の基板間に電場が与られると、フレーク３ｆｋは、基板面にほぼ垂直に配向する。緑色フィルタＣＦｇに対応した位置および青色フィルタＣＦｂに対応した位置にあるフレーク３ｆｋが基板面にほぼ垂直となるような電場を与えると、緑色フィルタＣＦｇまたは青色フィルタＣＦｂを通過した光は光吸収層５に吸収される（黒表示）。これに対して、赤色フィルタＣＦｒを通過した光は、赤色フィルタＣＦｒに対応した位置にあるフレーク３ｆｋによって反射される。したがって、観察者には赤色が観察される。 When an electric field is applied between a pair of substrates by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown), the flakes 3fk are oriented almost perpendicularly to the substrate surface. When an electric field is provided such that the flakes 3fk at the position corresponding to the green filter CFg and the position corresponding to the blue filter CFb are substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the light that has passed through the green filter CFg or the blue filter CFb is reflected in the light absorption layer 5. Is absorbed (black display). On the other hand, the light that has passed through the red filter CFr is reflected by the flakes 3fk at the position corresponding to the red filter CFr. Therefore, red is observed by the observer.
　部屋Ｒの壁面を構成するマルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅに画像を表示させる場合と同様にして、部屋Ｒの住人は、例えば窓枠等に配置されたコネクタ２２Ｅｐ（不図示）とドライバ装置２００Ｅ（図７参照）とを接続することにより、窓枠に嵌めこまれた複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれを例えば透明状態とすることができる（図８（ａ））。部屋Ｒの住人は、さらに、コネクタ２２Ｅｐにドライバ装置２００Ｅを再度接続することにより、窓枠に嵌めこまれた複数の表示パネル１０のそれぞれを散乱状態または反射状態とすることもできる（図８（ｂ））。したがって、マルチパネル表示装置１５０Ｅをサンシェードや目隠しとして利用することができる。 As in the case of displaying an image on the multi-panel display device 150E constituting the wall surface of the room R, a resident in the room R, for example, a connector 22Ep (not shown) and a driver device 200E (FIG. Are connected to each other, for example, each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame can be in a transparent state (FIG. 8A). Further, the resident in the room R can reconnect the driver device 200E to the connector 22Ep so that each of the plurality of display panels 10 fitted in the window frame is in a scattering state or a reflecting state (FIG. 8 ( b)). Therefore, the multi-panel display device 150E can be used as a sunshade or a blindfold.
　図１０（ａ）および（ｂ）に、ＰＮＬＣモードの液晶表示パネルにおける、透明状態と散乱状態との間の切り替えを説明する模式的な断面図を示す。図１０（ａ）および（ｂ）は、それぞれ、透明状態および散乱状態を示している。 10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining switching between the transparent state and the scattering state in the PNLC mode liquid crystal display panel. FIGS. 10A and 10B show a transparent state and a scattering state, respectively.
　図１０（ａ）および（ｂ）に示す表示パネル１０Ｄｃは、一対の基板（上基板４および下基板２）の間に配置された液晶層（表示媒体層）３ｃを有する。液晶層３ｃは、高分子相（不図示）と、高分子相内に分散された液晶滴（不図示）とを有する。不図示の電極に電圧を印加することにより一対の基板間に電場を与えると、液晶滴内の液晶分子が電場に平行に配向する。ここで、液晶分子の常光屈折率（ｎO）が高分子相の屈折率（ｎP、等方的）と整合するように、液晶材料および高分子材料が選ばれている。そのため、表示パネル１０Ｄｃに入射した周囲光ＩＬ１は、液晶層を透過し、透過光ＴＬとなる。すなわち、このとき、表示パネル１０Ｄｃは透明状態となる（図１０（ａ））。一対の基板間に電場を与えないときは、高分子相と液晶滴との間の屈折率の不整合に起因する光散乱が生じる。したがって、表示パネル１０Ｄｃに入射した周囲光ＩＬ２は、液晶層で散乱され、散乱光ＳＬを発生する。散乱光ＳＬは、観察者側に出て行くので、観察者には白濁した状態として観察される（図１０（ｂ））。 The display panel 10Dc shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B has a liquid crystal layer (display medium layer) 3c disposed between a pair of substrates (upper substrate 4 and lower substrate 2). The liquid crystal layer 3c has a polymer phase (not shown) and liquid crystal droplets (not shown) dispersed in the polymer phase. When an electric field is applied between a pair of substrates by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown), the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal droplets are aligned parallel to the electric field. Here, the liquid crystal material and the polymer material are selected so that the ordinary refractive index (n O ) of the liquid crystal molecule matches the refractive index (n P , isotropic) of the polymer phase. Therefore, the ambient light IL1 incident on the display panel 10Dc passes through the liquid crystal layer and becomes transmitted light TL. That is, at this time, the display panel 10Dc is in a transparent state (FIG. 10A). When an electric field is not applied between the pair of substrates, light scattering occurs due to refractive index mismatch between the polymer phase and the liquid crystal droplets. Accordingly, the ambient light IL2 incident on the display panel 10Dc is scattered by the liquid crystal layer, and the scattered light SL is generated. Since the scattered light SL goes out to the viewer side, it is observed as a cloudy state by the viewer (FIG. 10B).
　図１１（ａ）および（ｂ）に、フレーク型表示パネルにおける、透明状態と反射状態との間の切り替えを説明する模式的な断面図を示す。図１１（ａ）および（ｂ）は、それぞれ、透明状態および反射状態を示している。図１１（ａ）および（ｂ）に示す表示パネル１０Ｄｄは、カラーフィルタおよび光吸収層を有しない点で、図９（ｂ）に示した表示パネル１０Ｄｂと異なる。 11A and 11B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining switching between the transparent state and the reflective state in the flake type display panel. FIGS. 11A and 11B show a transparent state and a reflective state, respectively. A display panel 10Dd shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is different from the display panel 10Db shown in FIG. 9B in that it does not have a color filter and a light absorption layer.
　不図示の電極に電圧を印加することにより一対の基板間に電場を与えると、フレーク３ｆｋは、基板面にほぼ垂直に配向する。そのため、表示パネル１０Ｄｄに入射した周囲光ＩＬ１のほとんどは、表示媒体層３ｄ中のフレーク３ｆｋに反射されることなく表示媒体層３ｄを透過し、透過光ＴＬとなる（図１１（ａ））。これに対して、例えば基板面と平行な方向の電場を与えると、フレーク３ｆｋは、基板面にほぼ平行に配向するので、表示パネル１０Ｄｄに入射した周囲光ＩＬ２は、表示媒体層３ｄで反射されて反射光ＲＬを発生する（図１１（ｂ））。 When an electric field is applied between a pair of substrates by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown), the flakes 3fk are oriented almost perpendicularly to the substrate surface. Therefore, most of the ambient light IL1 incident on the display panel 10Dd passes through the display medium layer 3d without being reflected by the flakes 3fk in the display medium layer 3d, and becomes transmitted light TL (FIG. 11A). On the other hand, for example, when an electric field in a direction parallel to the substrate surface is applied, the flakes 3fk are oriented substantially parallel to the substrate surface, so that the ambient light IL2 incident on the display panel 10Dd is reflected by the display medium layer 3d. Then, the reflected light RL is generated (FIG. 11B).
　このように、本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムは、建材にも利用することもできる。例えばマルチディスプレイシステムにおけるマルチパネル表示装置を、壁材、床材、天井材等として用いることができる。特に、マルチパネル表示装置を内装材として用いる場合には、高い耐候性が要求されないので、外装材として用いる場合と比べてマルチパネル表示装置の製造コストが抑制される。また、模様替えに際して什器等を移動させる必要がないので、住居や商業施設等における模様替えを低コストかつ容易に行うことができる。 Thus, the multi-display system according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be used for building materials. For example, a multi-panel display device in a multi-display system can be used as a wall material, a floor material, a ceiling material, or the like. In particular, when a multi-panel display device is used as an interior material, high weather resistance is not required, so that the manufacturing cost of the multi-panel display device is suppressed compared to the case where it is used as an exterior material. Further, since it is not necessary to move furniture or the like when changing the pattern, it is possible to easily and inexpensively change the pattern in a residence or commercial facility.
　本発明の実施形態によると、従来よりも低コストまたは低消費電力なマルチディスプレイシステムが提供される。本発明の実施形態によると、マルチパネル表示装置とは別個の、持ち運び可能なドライバ装置による画像の書き込みまたは変更も可能であるので、より柔軟にマルチディスプレイシステムを運用できる。また、マルチパネル表示装置の大面積化もより容易である。なお、上記の実施形態では、表示パネルごとに画像ブロックが書き込まれる例を説明したが、例えば、２枚以上の表示パネルの組ごとに順次書き込みを行ってもよい。 According to the embodiment of the present invention, a multi-display system with lower cost or lower power consumption than the conventional one is provided. According to the embodiment of the present invention, an image can be written or changed by a portable driver device that is separate from the multi-panel display device, so that the multi-display system can be operated more flexibly. In addition, it is easier to increase the area of the multi-panel display device. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an image block is written for each display panel has been described. However, for example, writing may be sequentially performed for each set of two or more display panels.
　本発明の実施形態によるマルチディスプレイシステムまたはドライバ装置は、いわゆるデジタルサイネージや建材等に好適に用いられ得る。 The multi-display system or the driver device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be suitably used for so-called digital signage, building materials, and the like.
　１０、１０ｍ、１０ｓ　　表示パネル
　１２　　ＳＲＡＭ
　２２Ｃｃ、２２Ｄｃ、２２Ｅｃ　　コネクタ
　３０Ａ、３０Ｂ　　切り替え回路
　３２Ａ、３２Ｂ　　スイッチ
　４０ｓ　　表示信号用ドライバ
　４０ｇ、４０Ｂｇ　　走査信号用ドライバ
　５０　　コントローラ
　５２　　電力供給部
　６０　　処理部
　１００Ａ～１００Ｅ　　マルチディスプレイシステム
　１５０Ａ～１５０Ｅ　　マルチパネル表示装置
　２００Ｃ　　画像信号供給装置
　２００Ｄ、２００Ｅ　　ドライバ装置 10, 10m, 10s Display panel 12 SRAM
22Cc, 22Dc, 22Ec Connector 30A, 30B Switching circuit 32A, 32B Switch 40s Display signal driver 40g, 40Bg Scan signal driver 50 Controller 52 Power supply unit 60 Processing unit 100A to 100E Multi display system 150A to 150E Multi panel display device 200C Image signal supply device 200D, 200E Driver device

Claims (14)

  1. 　複数の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置と、
    　複数のスイッチを有する切り替え回路と、
    　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに表示信号を供給する表示信号用ドライバと、
    　画像信号を前記表示信号用ドライバに供給するとともに、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と前記複数の表示パネルの内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を前記切り替え回路に供給するコントローラと
    を備え、
    　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、前記複数の表示パネルの内の任意の表示パネルに１つの画像を書き込むために必要な時間と、前記複数の表示パネルの総数との積によって表される期間にわたって、画像を表示することができる、マルチディスプレイシステム。     A multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels;
    A switching circuit having a plurality of switches;
    A display signal driver for supplying a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels;
    The switching circuit supplies a switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between an output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels while supplying an image signal to the display signal driver. And a controller for supplying to
    Each of the plurality of display panels extends over a period represented by the product of the time required to write one image to any display panel of the plurality of display panels and the total number of the plurality of display panels. A multi-display system that can display images.
  2. 　前記切り替え回路は、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている、請求項１に記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 The multi-display system according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuit is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  3. 　前記表示信号用ドライバは、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている、請求項１または２に記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 The multi-display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display signal driver is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  4. 　前記コントローラは、前記マルチパネル表示装置と一体に配置されている、請求項１から３のいずれかに記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 The multi-display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is disposed integrally with the multi-panel display device.
  5. 　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、メモリ性を有する、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 The multi-display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the plurality of display panels has a memory property.
  6. 　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、基板と、前記基板上に一体的に形成された複数の記憶素子とを有する、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 5. The multi-display system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a plurality of storage elements integrally formed on the substrate.
  7. 　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれは、基板と、前記基板上に一体的に形成された走査信号用ドライバとを有する、請求項１から５のいずれかに記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 6. The multi-display system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of display panels includes a substrate and a scanning signal driver integrally formed on the substrate.
  8. 　少なくとも、前記複数の表示パネルに表示される画像を変更する命令を受信するように構成された受信回路をさらに備える、請求項１から７のいずれかに記載のマルチディスプレイシステム。 8. The multi-display system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving circuit configured to receive at least an instruction to change an image displayed on the plurality of display panels.
  9. 　複数の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置における前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに表示信号を供給する表示信号用ドライバと、
    　画像信号を前記表示信号用ドライバに供給するとともに、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と前記複数の表示パネルの内の１つとの間の電気的な接続を順次切り替えるための切り替え信号を、複数のスイッチを有する切り替え回路に供給するコントローラと、
    　前記マルチパネル表示装置に対して着脱自在に構成されたコネクタであって、前記表示信号用ドライバの出力端子と電気的に接続された複数の接続端子を有するコネクタと
    を備えるドライバ装置。     A display signal driver for supplying a display signal to each of the plurality of display panels in a multi-panel display device having a plurality of display panels;
    A switching signal for sequentially switching an electrical connection between an output terminal of the display signal driver and one of the plurality of display panels is supplied to the display signal driver. A controller for supplying a switching circuit having a switch;
    A driver device comprising: a connector configured to be detachable from the multi-panel display device, the connector having a plurality of connection terminals electrically connected to output terminals of the display signal driver.
  10. 　前記複数の表示パネルの総数および／または配置に関する情報を取得するとともに、前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれに対応した入力映像信号を前記コントローラに順次出力するように構成された処理部をさらに備える、請求項９に記載のドライバ装置。 And further comprising a processing unit configured to acquire information regarding the total number and / or arrangement of the plurality of display panels and sequentially output input video signals corresponding to the plurality of display panels to the controller. Item 10. The driver device according to Item 9.
  11. 　前記切り替え回路をさらに備える、請求項９または１０のいずれかに記載のドライバ装置。 The driver device according to claim 9, further comprising the switching circuit.
  12. 　前記複数の表示パネルのそれぞれへの画像の書き込みに必要な電力を前記マルチパネル表示装置に供給する、請求項９から１１のいずれかに記載のドライバ装置。 12. The driver device according to claim 9, wherein power required for writing an image to each of the plurality of display panels is supplied to the multi-panel display device.
  13. 　Ｎ枚（Ｎは２以上の自然数）の表示パネルを有するマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法であって、
    　第１から第Ｎの表示パネルに、１枚ずつ１フレーム期間ごとに順次に、画像を書き込む工程（ａ）と、
    　画像が書き込まれた前記Ｎ枚の表示パネルのそれぞれに、１フレーム期間×Ｎ以上の所定の期間にわたって、画像を表示させ続ける工程（ｂ）と
    を含み、
    　前記所定の期間が経過した後、前記工程（ａ）および（ｂ）をさらに行う、マルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法。     A driving method of a multi-panel display device having N display panels (N is a natural number of 2 or more),
    A step (a) of sequentially writing images on the first to Nth display panels one by one for each frame period;
    A step (b) of continuously displaying the image over a predetermined period of 1 frame period × N or more on each of the N display panels on which the image has been written,
    A method for driving a multi-panel display device, wherein the steps (a) and (b) are further performed after the predetermined period has elapsed.
  14. 　前記所定の期間は、１秒以上である、請求項１３に記載のマルチパネル表示装置の駆動方法。 14. The method of driving a multi-panel display device according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined period is 1 second or more.
PCT/JP2014/054956 2013-06-20 2014-02-27 Multi-display system, driver device, and method for powering multi-panel display device WO2014203564A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2013-129965 2013-06-20
JP2013129965 2013-06-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014203564A1 true WO2014203564A1 (en) 2014-12-24

Family

ID=52104310

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2014/054956 WO2014203564A1 (en) 2013-06-20 2014-02-27 Multi-display system, driver device, and method for powering multi-panel display device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2014203564A1 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002358052A (en) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-13 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Liquid crystal display device
JP2004126257A (en) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-22 Nec Electronics Corp Display device for portable electronic appliance
JP2005250300A (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-09-15 Nec Lcd Technologies Ltd Liquid crystal display device and its driving method
WO2005088595A1 (en) * 2004-03-10 2005-09-22 Rohm Co., Ltd Organic el display device
JP2008299066A (en) * 2007-05-31 2008-12-11 Pentel Corp Display adjusting method for display
JP2011186488A (en) * 2011-04-28 2011-09-22 Fujitsu Ltd Display control device and method, and computer program
JP2012252346A (en) * 2010-02-26 2012-12-20 Semiconductor Energy Lab Co Ltd Display device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002358052A (en) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-13 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Liquid crystal display device
JP2004126257A (en) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-22 Nec Electronics Corp Display device for portable electronic appliance
JP2005250300A (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-09-15 Nec Lcd Technologies Ltd Liquid crystal display device and its driving method
WO2005088595A1 (en) * 2004-03-10 2005-09-22 Rohm Co., Ltd Organic el display device
JP2008299066A (en) * 2007-05-31 2008-12-11 Pentel Corp Display adjusting method for display
JP2012252346A (en) * 2010-02-26 2012-12-20 Semiconductor Energy Lab Co Ltd Display device
JP2011186488A (en) * 2011-04-28 2011-09-22 Fujitsu Ltd Display control device and method, and computer program

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8878769B2 (en) Electrophoretic display apparatus and method of driving the same
KR101243789B1 (en) LCD and drive method thereof
JP2007199441A (en) Image display device
KR101082286B1 (en) Liquid Crystal Display Device and Driving Method Thereof
US8854351B2 (en) Electrophoretic display device and method of driving an electrophoretic display device
US20130069992A1 (en) Pixel structure
KR101838047B1 (en) Electrophoresis display device and driving method the same
US20130335658A1 (en) Pixel Architecture for Electronic Displays
JP5293606B2 (en) Liquid crystal display element, driving method thereof, and electronic paper using the same
JP5082702B2 (en) Liquid crystal display element, driving method thereof, and electronic paper using the same
JP2016085401A (en) Electro-optic device, method for controlling electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus
JP4342538B2 (en) Liquid crystal display device and driving method of liquid crystal display device
KR20070066654A (en) Liquid crystal display and method for driving thereof
KR20090073764A (en) Blind type apparatus using plat panel display device
KR102270257B1 (en) Display device and driving method for display device using the same
WO2014203564A1 (en) Multi-display system, driver device, and method for powering multi-panel display device
JP5035888B2 (en) Liquid crystal display device and driving method of liquid crystal display device
KR101202588B1 (en) LCD and driving method thereof
KR20110121844A (en) Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
CN102483901A (en) Fast transitions of large area cholesteric displays
US10971093B2 (en) Pixel circuit and display device
US11551623B2 (en) Display device and display method
KR101791689B1 (en) Liquid Crystal Display device
JPS6294828A (en) Liquid crystal display device
KR20120050263A (en) Cholesteric lcd panel

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: 14813696

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: 14813696

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP