Display apparatus having mechanism for opening and closing display panel

• US 20070119790A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshinaka, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/308 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/47 Friction-plate catch

Abstract

A display apparatus composed of a main body and a display panel hinged to the main body is conveniently mounted on a ceiling of an automobile. The display panel is opened to a desired position to display information to a rear seat passenger, while it is closed and stays at a rest position when it is not used. Before the display panel is driven to the desired position, it is unlocked by bringing a holding device to a releasing state, and it is locked at the desired position by bringing the holding device to a holding state. At the holding state, a rotatable member connected to the display panel is gripped by the holding device, and the gripping force imposed on the rotatable member is removed at the releasing state. In this manner, the display panel is surely locked at an arbitrary position and is freely driven with a small driving force.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking a position of a display panel of a display apparatus, the locking mechanism comprising:

a position detector for detecting a position of the display panel hinged to a main body of the display apparatus;

a rotatable member that is rotatable around the hinged portion, the rotatable member being driven together with the display panel to a rest position and to a display position of the display panel; and

a holding device for holding the rotatable member at the rest position and the display position and for releasing the rotatable member at moving positions other than the rest position and the display position.

2. The locking mechanism as in claim 1, further including an actuator for bringing the holding device to a holding state, where the rotatable member is held by the holding device, and to a releasing state, where the rotatable member is released from the holding device.

3. The locking mechanism as in claim 2, wherein:

the actuator includes a motor and a gear train for transmitting a driving torque of the motor to the holding device; and

the gear train includes a worm gear connected to the motor, an intermediate gear driven by the worm gear, and a cam driven by the intermediate gear for switching the states of the holding device between the holding state and the releasing state.

4. The locking mechanism as in claim 2, wherein:

the holding device includes a first holding member and a second holding member, both members being positioned to face each other with the rotatable member disposed therebetween; and

both members restrain rotation of the rotatable member in the holding state and allow rotation of the rotatable member in the releasing state.

5. The locking mechanism as in claim 4, wherein:

each of the first holding member and the second holding member is formed in an elongated shape having a length longer than a diameter of the rotatable member;

the holding device includes a spring member for biasing the first and the second holding members in a direction to separate both members from each other, the spring member being disposed at a first end of both members; and

the actuator switches the states of the holding device from the releasing state to the holding state by pushing a second end of the first holding member toward the second holding member.

6. The locking mechanism as in claim 1, wherein:

the holding device restricts rotation of the rotatable member by contacting the rotatable member at the holding state; and

the holding device has a shape substantially matching to a shape of the rotatable member at a portion where the holding device contacts the rotatable member.

7. The locking mechanism as in claim 4, wherein:

a projection is formed around an outer circumference of the rotatable member, and a groove engaging with the projection is formed on each of the first and the second holding members; and

the projection engages with the groove when the holding device is brought to the holding state.

8. The locking mechanism as in claim 7, wherein:

a cross-section of the projection has a trapezoidal shape gradually narrowed toward its tip portion.

9. The locking mechanism as in claim 7, wherein:

the groove is gradually narrowed toward its bottom portion.

10. A control device for controlling operation of a mechanism for opening and closing a display panel hinged to a main body of a display apparatus, the control device comprising:

a position detector for detecting a position of the display panel relative to the main body;

a rotatable member that is rotatable around the hinged portion, the rotatable member being driven by an opening and closing mechanism together with the display panel to a rest position and to a display position of the display panel; and

a holding device for holding the rotatable member at the rest position and the display position and for releasing the rotatable member at moving positions other than the rest position and the display position;

an actuator for bringing the holding device to a holding state, where the rotatable member is held by the holding device, and to a releasing state, where the rotatable member is released from the holding device; and

means for controlling the actuator, so that the states of the holding device change from the holding state to the releasing state when the opening and closing mechanism starts its operation, and from the releasing state to the holding state when the opening and the closing mechanism stops its operation.

11. A method of opening and closing a display panel hinged to a main body of a display apparatus, comprising steps of, the steps being performed in the following order:

restricting movement of the display panel at a rest position of the display panel;

allowing the display panel to freely move relative to the main body;

driving the display panel from the rest position to a desired position;

restricting movement of the display panel at the desired position;

allowing the display panel to freely move relative to the main body;

driving the display panel from the desired position to the rest position; and

restricting movement of the display panel at the rest position.