DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20140340851A1
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: YOMOGITA, Yasukazu
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/725
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

A display device is provided and includes: a display portion; a storage member configured to house the display portion and including an opening through which the display portion passes; a plurality of cover members configured to cover the opening and to travel from the opening to a region of the storage member adjacent to the opening so as to be folded up and overlapped with each other at the region; and travel control means configured to cause the plurality of cover members to transfer to a first condition in which the opening is closed by the plurality of cover members and also to a second condition in which the plurality of cover members are folded up and overlapped with each other.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display portion;

a storage member configured to house the display portion and comprising an opening through which the display portion passes;

a plurality of cover members configured to cover the opening and to travel from the opening to a region of the storage member adjacent to the opening so as to be folded up and overlapped with each other at the region; and

travel control means configured to cause the plurality of cover members to transfer to a first condition in which the opening is closed by the plurality of cover members and also to a second condition in which the plurality of cover members are folded up and overlapped with each other.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the travel control means move the plurality of cover members at respective different speeds.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the travel control means move the plurality of cover members from the second condition to the first condition at a same timing and also from the first condition to the second condition at a same timing.

4. A display device according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of cover members are disposed in the second condition, the cover member with a longer travel distance of the plurality of cover members is located below the cover member with a shorter travel distance.

5. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises biasing means configured to bias the display portion in a retraction direction when the display portion is raised up.

6. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device further comprises a rotary cover member configured to rotate to thereby open and close a part of the opening.

7. A display device according to claim 6, wherein the display device comprises a rotation opening and closing means configured to rotate the rotary cover member by a travel means to open and close one of the plurality of cover members thereby closing the part of the opening.

8. A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cover members has a surface area smaller than an area of the opening, and a total surface area of the plurality of cover members is larger than the area of the opening.

9. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device further comprises:

a first drive source to drive the plurality of cover members via the travel control means;

and a second drive source disposed independent from the first drive source and configured to drive the display portion.

10. A display device comprising:

an opening;

a combiner which, in use, is raised up through the opening with information displayed thereon and which, out of use, is retracted and stored;

a plurality of divided lids which, in use, are configured to be folded up and stored by cover opening action to thereby open the opening and which, out of use, are configured to close the opening; and

opening and closing drive structure configured to open and close the plurality of lids at respective different speeds.

11. A display device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of lids comprise:

a first lid, a second lid, and also a third lid which is disposed closer to an end portion of the opening than the first and second lids and which opens and closes a part of the opening by rotation action.

12. A display device according to claim 11, wherein the display device comprises:

a support member configured to rotatably support the third lid and having a drive boss;

an elastic member configured to bias the third lid in an opening direction; and

a closing action portion configured, when the first and second lids are closed, to move the drive boss of the support member to thereby close the part of opening by the third lid.

13. A display device comprising:

a display portion configured to display information;

a storage member configured to store the display portion and comprising an opening at an upper side thereof for allowing the display portion to protrude through;

a plurality of cover members which are configured to cover the opening and which each have a smaller surface area than the opening; and

cover opening and closing means configured to open and close the plurality of cover members, respectively, wherein a first condition is present in which the plurality of cover members are overlapped with one another, and a second condition is present in which the plurality of cover members close the opening.

14. A display device according to claim 13, wherein the display device comprises travel means configured to move the plurality of cover members at respective different speeds, one of when the first condition is transferred to the second condition, and when the second condition is transferred to the first condition.

15. A display device according to claim 14, wherein the cover members comprise a first cover member comprising first bosses and a second cover member comprising second bosses, and wherein the display device further comprises:

a first drive source disposed in the storage member and configured to move the travel means;

a drive shaft configured to travel in a travel direction of the cover member;

a first travel body disposed parallel to a side of the storage member and configured to travel in the travel direction in accordance with a rotation action of the drive shaft and a travel action thereof in the travel direction; and

a second travel body disposed parallel to the side of the storage member and configured to travel in the travel direction in accordance with the travel action of the drive shaft in the travel direction,

wherein the first cover member is engaged with the first travel body by the first bosses, and the second cover member is engaged with the second travel body by the second bosses.

16. A display device according to claim 15, wherein a first guide rail is disposed on the side of the storage member and comprises:

a first horizontal portion extending in the travel direction; and

a first vertical portion connected with the first horizontal portion and extending in a first direction intersecting with the travel direction, wherein the first travel body comprises a first guide hole comprising a first inclined portion extending in a second direction intersecting with the travel direction, the first boss of the first travel body is engaged with the first guide rail and the first guide hole, and wherein the first cover member is transferred from the first condition to the second condition and also is transferred from the second condition to the first condition in accordance with traveling of the first travel body moving in the travel direction.

17. A display device according to claim 16, wherein a second guide rail is disposed at the side of the storage member and comprises:

a second horizontal portion extending in the travel direction; and

a second vertical portion connected with the second horizontal portion and extending in the second direction intersecting with the travel direction, wherein the second travel body comprises a second guide hole comprising a second inclined portion extending in the second direction, and the second boss of the second travel body is engaged with the second guide rail and the second guide hole, and wherein the second cover member is transferred from the first condition to the second condition and also is transferred from the second condition to the first condition in accordance with traveling of the second travel body moving in the travel direction.

18. A display device according to claim 16, wherein an angle made between the first direction and the second direction is substantially 45 degrees.

19. A display device according to claim 15, wherein the display device further comprises a second drive source disposed independent from the first drive source and configured to raise up and retract the display portion.

20. A display device according to claim 15, wherein the first drive shaft comprises a pinion, and the first travel body comprises a rack to engage with the pinion.