Swing-type display device

• US 20040222428A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ota, Masahiko, Shimomura, Masaru, Uemura, Hirotaka, Ishikawa, Mikihiro, Fukasawa, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/79
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation

Abstract

A linear array of red LEDs 10R is provided so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which a swing-type display device is swung, and a linear array of green LEDs 10G is further provided, the red LEDs 10R and green LEDs 10G being arranged in pairs of two. A CPU activates each of the red LEDs 10R and green LEDs 10G for a predetermined period to emit light in a luminance level in accordance with image data. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed in the trajectory of the swing due to persistence of vision. Thus, an image can be displayed in various colors.

Claims

1. A swing-type display device for, when swung, displaying an image in a trajectory of the swing by utilizing persistence of vision, comprising:

a linear array of first light-emitting elements capable of emitting light in a predetermined color, the linear array extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the swing;

a linear array of second light-emitting elements capable of emitting light in a color which is different from the predetermined color, the first light-emitting elements and the second light-emitting elements being arranged in pairs of two, such that each second light-emitting element is disposed near a corresponding one of the first light-emitting elements; and

a control section for activating each of the first and second light-emitting elements for a predetermined period to emit light in a luminance level in accordance with image data, thereby displaying an image corresponding to the image data in the trajectory of the swing.

2. The swing-type display device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is equal to a period for displaying a single pixel of the image.

3. The swing-type display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light-emitting elements of each pair are located side by side in the direction of the swing.

4. The swing-type display device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical guide composed of a light-transmitting material, the optical guide covering light-emitting surfaces of the first and second light-emitting elements and allowing the light emitted from the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second light-emitting elements to propagate there through to outside of the swing-type display device,

wherein,

the optical guide includes a first face opposing the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second light-emitting elements, and a second face opposite from the first face, the second face being mat-finished to diffuse the light propagating through the optical guide.

5. The swing-type display device according to claim 4, wherein a groove is formed on the first face of the optical guide, in a position opposing each of boundaries between adjacent pairs of first and second light-emitting elements.

6. The swing-type display device according to claim 1,

wherein,

the control section is operable to drive each of the first and second light-emitting elements for the predetermined period by a PWM technique using a pulse having a frequency based on the image data, and

the frequency takes at least two values in accordance with the image data.

7. The swing-type display device according to claim 1,

wherein,

the control section is operable to drive each of the first and second light-emitting elements for the predetermined period with a current or voltage based on the image data, and

the current or voltage takes at least two values in accordance with the image data.

8. The swing-type display device according to claim 1, further comprising a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt of the swing-type display device,

wherein,

the tilt sensor includes a ball which is capable of reciprocating between a first position and a second position in synchronization with the swing of the swing-type display device, and

the control section is operable to begin activating each of the first and second light-emitting elements each time the ball is moved out of the first or second position.

9. The swing-type display device according to claim 3, wherein the control section is operable to control one of the first and second light-emitting elements of each pair that is located more to a rear along the direction of the swing of the swing-type display device to be activated a predetermined time later than the other light-emitting element which is located more to a front along the direction of the swing of the swing-type display device.

10. A swing-type display device for, when swung, displaying an image in a trajectory of the swing by utilizing persistence of vision, comprising:

a linear array of light-emitting elements, the linear array extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the swing;

a control section for activating each of the light-emitting elements for a predetermined period to emit light in a luminance level in accordance with image data, thereby displaying an image corresponding to the image data in the trajectory of the swing;

partitions, each provided between adjacent ones of the light-emitting elements, for restricting directions of light outputted from light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements; and

a covering member provided to cover the light-emitting elements and the partitions, the covering member being composed of a light-transmitting material,

wherein,

the covering member includes a first face opposing the light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements, and a second face opposite from the first face, and

the swing-type display device further comprises a plurality of convex portions formed on at least one of the first and second faces, each shaped as a ridge extending along the direction of the swing.

11. The swing-type display device according to claim 10, wherein the convex portion has a lenticular-lens-like or wedge-like configuration.

12. The swing-type display device according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of said partitions are formed in a light-emitting area on the second face which is attributable to each of the light-emitting elements.

13. The swing-type display device according to claim 10,

wherein,

the convex portions are formed on the first face, and

the covering member is disposed so as to leave a predetermined space from the partitions.

14. The swing-type display device according to claim 13, wherein the covering members are formed at least on portions of the first face opposing the partitions.

15. The swing-type display device according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined period is equal to a period f or displaying a single pixel of the image.

16. The swing- type display device according to claim 10,

wherein,

the control section is operable to drive each of the light-emitting elements for the predetermined period by a PWM technique using a pulse having a frequency based on the image data, and

the frequency takes at least three values in accordance with the image data.

17. The swing-type display device according to claim 10,

wherein,

the control section is operable to drive each of the light-emitting elements for the predetermined period with a current or voltage based on the image data, and

the current or voltage takes at least three values in accordance with the image data.

18. The swing-type display device according to claim 10, further comprising a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt of the swing-type display device,

wherein,

the tilt sensor includes a ball which is capable of reciprocating between a first position and a second position in synchronization with the swing of the swing-type display device, and

the control section is operable to begin activating each of the light-emitting elements each time the ball is moved out of the first or second position.