Display device for an electronic appliance

• US 6,727,868 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsui, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alphonse, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/783,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/50, 345/30, 345/55, 345/38, 345/40, 345/42, 345/104, 345/659, 345/657, 368/10, 368/276, 368/84
• US Class Current: 345/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308

Abstract

The terminals for a display content control signal or product specification control signal output by an integrated circuit for detecting a display format of a display panel are all connected to a corresponding drive pattern of a circuit board used for conveying drive signals to the display panel through a connector, so that a plurality of different types of displays may be driven without requiring different dedicated electronic circuits modified for each type of display. A plurality of different display panels each having a unique display format are prepared for use in different destinations, and the drive pattern on the display panel indicates the destination, thereby making possible to provide a display content switch section or product specification switch section within the display panel.

Claims

1. A display device for an electronic appliance, comprising:

a circuit board;

a display panel mountable on the circuit board and having a plurality of display elements in a given fixed arrangement, and a circuit pattern that indicates a display format of the display panel, the display format defining at least one of the type of the display elements, or the fixed arrangement of the display elements, or content displayable by the display panel; and

an integrated circuit mounted to the circuit board for detecting the display format of the display panel by outputting a display content control signal to the display panel, and for driving the display panel according to the detected display format;

wherein the integrated circuit outputs the display content control signal to the circuit pattern and detects the display format of the display panel in accordance with the circuit pattern, so that display panels having different display formats each having a different type of display elements, or a different fixed arrangement of display elements or being capable of displaying different content are mountable to the circuit board and the display format of a respective display panel is detected when the respective display panel is mounted to the circuit board.

2. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein a plurality of different display panels each having a unique display format are prepared for use in different destinations, and the circuit pattern on the display panel indicates the destination.

3. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the circuit pattern presents an open circuit to the display content control signal to indicate a first display format and presents a closed circuit to the display content control signal to indicate a second display format.

4. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the circuit board has a drive signal circuit pattern formed thereon for supplying drive signals from the integrated circuit to the display panel, and the display content control signal is output to the display panel through the drive signal circuit pattern.

5. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 4;

further comprising a connector mounted to the circuit board for mounting the display panel thereto, the connector having a circuit pattern for conveying the drive signals and the display content control signal from the integrated circuit to the display panel.

6. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a lateral orientation.

7. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 6;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

8. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a vertical orientation.

9. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 8;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

10. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the display elements are seven-segment display elements.

11. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 1;

wherein the display elements are dot-matrix display elements.

24. A display device drive circuit according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of different types of display panels each having a unique display format are prepared for use in different destinations, and the first circuit pattern formed on the display panels indicates the destination.

12. A display device for an electronic appliance comprising:

a circuit board;

a display panel mountable on the circuit board and having a plurality of display elements in a given fixed arrangement, and a circuit pattern that indicates a display format of the display panel, the display format defining at least one of the type of the display elements, or the fixed arrangement of the display elements, or content displayable by the display panel; and

an integrated circuit mounted to the circuit board for detecting the display format of the display panel by outputting a product specification control signal to the display panel, and for driving the display panel in accordance with the detected display format;

wherein the integrated circuit outputs the product specification control signal to the circuit pattern and detects the display format of the display panel in accordance with the circuit pattern, so that display panels having different display formats each having a different type of display elements, or a different fixed arrangement of display elements or being capable of displaying different content are mountable to the circuit board and the display format of a respective display panel is detected when the respective display panel is mounted to the circuit board.

13. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein a plurality of different display panels each having a unique display format are prepared for use in different destinations, and the circuit pattern on the display panel indicates the destination.

14. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the circuit pattern presents an open circuit to the product specification control signal to indicate a first display format and presents a closed circuit to the product specification control signal to indicate a second display format.

15. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the circuit board has a drive signal circuit pattern formed thereon for supplying drive signals from the integrated circuit to the display panel, and the product specification content control signal is output to the display panel through the drive signal circuit pattern.

16. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 15;

further comprising a connector mounted to the circuit board for mounting the display panel thereto, the connector having a circuit pattern for conveying the drive signals and the product specification content control signal from the integrated circuit to the display panel.

17. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a lateral orientation.

18. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 17;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

19. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a vertical orientation.

20. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 19;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

21. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the display elements are seven-segment display elements.

22. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 12;

wherein the display elements are dot-matrix display elements.

23. A display device drive circuit comprising:

a circuit board;

an integrated circuit mounted to the circuit board for outputting a detecting signal for detecting a display format of one of a plurality of different types of display panels each having a unique display format, each display format having a different fixed arrangement of display elements or being capable of displaying different content, the display format of the display panel being indicated by a first circuit pattern formed on the display panel when the one display panel is mounted on the circuit board and for outputting drive signals for driving the one display panel according to the detected display type; and

a second circuit pattern formed on the circuit board and connected to the integrated circuit and connectable to the first circuit pattern for conveying the detecting signal and the drive signals to the one display panel.

25. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

wherein the first circuit pattern presents an open circuit to the detecting signal to indicate a first display format and presents a closed circuit to the detecting signal to indicate a second display format.

26. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

further comprising a connector mounted to the circuit board for mounting the display panel thereto, the connector having a third circuit pattern for conveying the detecting signal and the drive signals from the integrated circuit to the display panel.

27. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

wherein the one display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a lateral orientation.

28. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 27;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

29. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

wherein the one display panel is a rectangular-shaped display panel for displaying the content in a vertical orientation.

30. A display device for an electronic appliance according to claim 29;

wherein the content comprises time and date information.

31. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

wherein the display elements are seven-segment display elements.

32. A display device drive circuit according to claim 23;

wherein the display elements are dot-matrix display elements.