DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
DISPLAY DEVICE
Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to a display device suitable to a large-sized television
set or the like.
Background Art
[0002]
Display devices such as television receivers or personal computer (PC) monitors
have been shifted from cathode ray tubes to flat panel displays (FPDs) typified by liquid
crystal or plasma displays, and currently FPDs are dominant. The reasons are as
follows; while a picture source is a planar image in one plane cut from space, cathode
ray tubes involve convex transformation, have limitations in upsizing, or have
difficulties in coping with enhancement of display resolution.
[0003]
In such FPDs, for example, a display main body including a display screen is
supported in a predetermined posture state by a stand or the like, and moreover, on both
the right and the left sides of the display screen, speakers are provided (for example,
Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP 4253350B1
Patent Literature 2: JP 2006-350145A
Summary of Invention
[0005]
In recent years, it is desired to achieve a display device capable of attaining a
3
curved shape that, as typified by 3D display, when a viewer (an observer) sees a display
image, gives feeling of immersion in the display image by three-dimensional feeling, a
sense of unity, or feeling of presence, or a curved shape that may be used for other
various applications.
[0006]
It is therefore desirable to provide a display device that makes it possible to give an
observer feeling of immersion in a display image.
[0007]
A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a
display panel having a curved shape in section along one axis, the display panel
including a display screen that includes a concave surface, wherein a radius of curvature
(R) of the curved shape of the display screen is larger than 2000 mm.
[0008]
In the display device according to the above-described embodiment of the present
disclosure, in the display panel having the predetermined curved shape, the radius of
curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is larger than 2000 mm. Thus,
cracking of the display panel is restrained and the curved shape is maintained.
[0009]
According to the display device according to the above-described embodiment of
the present disclosure, in the display panel having the predetermined curved shape, the
radius of curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is larger than 2000 mm.
Hence, it is possible to restrain cracking of the display panel and to maintain the curved
shape. It is possible to attain curved shapes according to applications, such as a gently
curved shape that gives, for example, visually three-dimensional feeling, a sense of
unity, or feeling of presence, or the like without uncomfortable feeling, or a curved
shape that surrounds an entire visual field of a user. It is therefore possible to obtain a
desired curved shape as well as to maintain manufacturing properties.
4
Brief Description of Drawings
[0010]
[Fig. 1]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one example of an appearance of a display
device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a front
surface side.
[Fig. 2]
Fig. 2 is a front view (A), a side view (B), a top view (C), and a rear view (D) of
the display device illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3]
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one configuration example of a display
panel illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is a characteristic diagram illustrating relationship between a radius of
curvature of the display panel and a maximum amount of glass displacement.
[Fig. 5]
Fig. 5 is a characteristic diagram illustrating relationship between the radius of
curvature and the maximum amount of displacement in a case that a screen size is
varied.
[Fig. 6]
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of a curved shape.
[Fig. 7]
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining one configuration example of a
speaker section illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 8]
Fig. 8 is a top view illustrating examples of curved shapes of the display panel and
a stand illustrated in Fig. 1.
5
[Fig. 9A]
Fig. 9A is a top view illustrating another configuration example of the stand
illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 9B]
Fig. 9B is a top view illustrating another configuration example of the stand
illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 9C]
Fig. 9C is a top view illustrating another configuration example of the stand
illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 10]
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a belt-like
illumination section illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 11A]
Fig. 11A is a schematic diagram for explaining effects of the display device
illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 11B]
Fig. 11B is a schematic diagram for explaining effects of the display device
illustrated in Fig. 1.
Description of Embodiments
[0011]
In the following, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in
detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted that description will be made in
the following order.
•Embodiment (Example of Liquid Crystal Display Device)
1. Configuration
1-1. Configuration of Liquid Crystal Panel
1-2. Configuration of Speaker Section
6
1-3. Configuration of Stand
1-4. Configuration of Belt-like Illumination Section
2. Functions and Effects
[0012]
< Embodiment>
(Configuration)
Fig. 1 illustrates an appearance of a display device (a display device 1) according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a front surface side. (A) to
(D) of Fig. 2 illustrate a front view, a side view, a top view, and a rear view of the
display device 1, respectively. The display device 1 may be used as, for example, a
television set, and a main body portion including a display panel (a liquid crystal panel
11) is supported by a stand (a stand 14) and maintained in a predetermined posture state.
Thus, the display device 1 may be used in a stationary type that may be placed on a
horizontal plane such as a floor, a shelf, or a table, but may be used in a wall-mounted
type in a state with the stand 14 detached from the main body portion.
[0013]
The display device 1 includes, for example, a speaker section 12 (a sound output
member) on an end portion along one axis of the liquid crystal panel 11 (here, the right
and the left end portions in an X direction). Decorative members 13 are put over top
and bottom surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 11, and a rear surface (an opposite
surface to a display screen) is covered with a rear casing member (a rear cover, not
illustrated in Fig. 1). Inside the decorative members 13, belt-like illumination sections
15, which will be described later, are embedded.
[0014]
(Liquid Crystal Panel 11)
The liquid crystal panel 11 may have a configuration in which, for example, optical
sheets, a light guide plate, and a reflective member, and so on are provided on one
7
surface side of a liquid crystal cell (a back surface side of the display device 1). The
liquid crystal cell may have a configuration in which liquid crystal is sealed between a
pair of substrates, and may include, for example, a source driver and a source substrate
in order to drive the liquid crystal cell. The optical sheets or the like may include, for
example, a diffusion plate, a diffusion sheet, a lens film, a polarized light separation
sheet, and so on. The light guide plate is adapted to guide light from a light source
(not illustrated) toward the liquid crystal panel 11 side, and may be configured including
mainly, for example, a transparent thermo-setting resin such as a polycarbonate resin
(PC) or an acrylic resin (for example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and so on).
The reflective member is adapted to allow light emitted toward a rear side of the light
guide plate to be returned into the light guide plate, and may be a plate-like or sheet-like
member such as foamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a silver-evaporated film, a
multi-layered reflective film, or a white-color PET.
[0015]
Main components (the liquid crystal cell, the optical sheets, the light guide plate,
and the reflective member) of the liquid crystal panel 11 are all configured of thin
plate-like or sheet-like flexible members made of glass or a resin. Therefore, the liquid
crystal panel 11 has flexibility as a whole.
[0016]
The liquid crystal panel 11 has a rectangular shape in XY plan configuration, and
has a curved shape in section (in XZ section) along one axis (the X direction) (has a
curved portion in an arc shape along one axis). Fig. 3 illustrates one example of the
XZ section of the liquid crystal panel 11. As illustrated, in the present embodiment,
the liquid crystal panel 11 is curved gently from a center portion toward end portions in
the X direction, at a constant curvature. Also, the liquid crystal panel 11 is curved with
a concave surface facing toward the front side (the display side) (is protruded toward the
rear side (the back surface side)), and a display screen 11a of the liquid crystal panel 11
8
constitutes a concave curved surface S1. In this way, when an observer sees the liquid
crystal panel 11 from the front, the center portion is visually recognized to be gradually
narrowed than the right and the left end portions, making it possible to give feeling of
immersion by a visual effect of perspective.
[0017]
A radius of curvature R of the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 (a radius
of curvature of the concave curved surface S1) is larger than 2000 mm. Moreover, for
example, in a case that the display screen 11a is large-sized (for example, 40 inches or
greater), for example, 4000 mm to 8000 mm both inclusive may be desirable,
specifically 6000 mm. Fig. 4 illustrates relationship between the radius of curvature R
(mm) and a maximum amount of displacement (μm) of glass substrates (a screen size:
55 inches). The liquid crystal cell in the liquid crystal panel 11 has a configuration in
which a liquid crystal material is interposed between two glass substrates, and when the
liquid crystal cell is deformed, there occurs a planar displacement between the two glass
substrates in some cases. The maximum amount of displacement of the glass
substrates indicates an amount of such planar displacement. When a positional
displacement of the glass substrates occurs, a black matrix layer formed on a surface of
one glass substrate and a color filter layer formed on another opposite glass substrate are
disposed to be displaced from desired positions, causing lowered brightness or color
mixing, which may adversely affect image quality.
[0018]
Moreover, regarding the maximum amount of displacement (μm) with respect to
the radius of curvature R (mm) as described above, similar measurement was carried out
with the cases of the screen sizes of 40 inches and 65 inches. Then, as illustrated in
Fig. 5, similar tendency to the case of the screen size of 55 inches was found. Such
tendency is considered to occur similarly with the screen size larger than 65 inches.
However, a vertical axis of Fig. 5 indicates ratios of the maximum amount of
9
displacement (μm) with respect to the arc length (corresponding to the screen size: mm)
along the vertical axis.
[0019]
As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, when the radius of curvature of the curved shape is
too small, the maximum amount of displacement of the glass substrates tends to
increase rapidly. In particular, when the radius of curvature R is 2000 mm or less, the
glass substrate cracks, failing in maintaining the curved shape, as has been found in an
experiment. Accordingly, by allowing the radius of curvature R of the curved shape to
be larger than 2000 mm, it is possible to restrain cracking of the glass substrate and to
maintain manufacturing properties. Here, it is desired to attain various curved shapes
according to applications of the display device.
[0020]
For example, as illustrated in Fig. 6, in a display 1a that has a curved shape of an
extremely small radius of curvature R, surrounding an entire visual filed of a user 2, it is
desirable that the curved shape be designed in a range where the radius of curvature R is
not equal to or smaller than 2000 mm. The display 1a is adapted, for example, to
allow a plurality of contents (C1, C2, C3, C4 …) including various images, pictures,
characters, and so on to be displayed on one screen, and is suitable for use in
applications to present many pieces of information.
[0021]
On the other hand, in a case of designing a curved shape for displaying pictures
such as movies and giving feeling of immersion to the user (the observer), when the
radius of curvature is smaller than 4000 mm, the observer tends to feel uncomfortable;
on the contrary, when larger than 8000 mm, there are difficulties in giving feeling of
immersion as intended, though the maximum amount of displacement is reduced, as has
been found statistically. Accordingly, it is desirable that the radius of curvature R of
the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 be larger than 2000 mm in view of
10
manufacturing properties, in particular 4000 mm to 8000 mm both inclusive in
applications in which feeling of immersion is appreciated.
[0022]
It is to be noted that in the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11, in the X
direction, the radius of curvature is not necessarily constant. For example, there may
be an inflexion point where the curvature changes at a certain point toward the end
portion; alternatively, there may be a local region that has a different curvature from that
of other regions. However, it is desirable that the curved shape be symmetric with
respect to the center portion in the X direction of the liquid crystal panel 11. Moreover,
it is desirable that the curved shape do not include a linear portion extending in the X
direction in a space between the observer and the display screen (for example, 50 mm or
less); it is more desirable that the curved shape be entirely configured of curved portion.
[0023]
(Speaker Section 12)
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of configuration of a main part of the display device 1
viewed from back surface side. Specifically, illustrated are the liquid crystal panel 11
and the speaker section 12, and a frame member 30 and a plate member 40 that support
the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11. The speaker section 12 is provided in
the end portions in the X direction of the liquid crystal panel 11, specifically, in regions
along two opposite short sides among sides of the rectangular shape of the liquid crystal
panel 11. Thus, in the display device 1, the speaker section 12 is provided in the right
and the left end portions of the liquid crystal panel 11. However, though in Fig. 7
illustration on one end portion side is omitted for simplicity, the speaker section 12 is
also provided on another end portion of the liquid crystal panel 11 in a horizontally
symmetrical form. By disposing the speaker section 12 on the right and the left ends
of the liquid crystal panel 11, picture and sound are effectively in harmony, making it
possible to enhance feeling of immersion by combination of the above-mentioned visual
11
effects by the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 and auditory effects by the
speaker section 12.
[0024]
The plate member 40 is a flexible plate made of metal or a resin. On a back
surface side of the plate member 40, the frame member 30 is provided, and also
substrates and the like 60 are mounted, which include the source substrate, a timing
controller substrate, a driver substrate that is configured to control the backlight light
source, and so on. The fame member 30 extends in one direction (the X direction and
a Y direction) in the back surface of the plate member 40. On a front surface of the
plate member 40, the liquid crystal panel 11 is stacked. The frame member 30 and the
plate member 40 have curved shapes in an arc form along the X direction, allowing the
curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 to be maintained. However, configurations
of the frame member 30 and the plate member 40 are exemplary and non-limiting to this
configuration as long as the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 is maintained.
[0025]
In the proximity of the right and the left ends of the side surfaces of the frame
member 30, it is desirable that a bent portion 30a that is bent forwardly (toward the
display side) be provided. Thus, a large space is formed between the frame member
30 and the undepicted rear casing member, making it easier to secure capacity of the
speaker section 12, which will be described later.
[0026]
At the right and the left end portions of the liquid crystal panel 11, at least part of
the speaker section 12 is provided overlapping the back surface of the liquid crystal
panel (is provided extending toward or wrapping around the back surface side). It is to
be noted that an outer surface of the rear casing member 14 may have a similar curved
shape to that of the liquid crystal panel 11, but, for example, as illustrated in (C) of Fig.
2, a flat surface may be preferable. Thus, at the right and the left end portions of the
12
liquid crystal panel 11, a large space is formed between the liquid crystal panel 11 and
the rear casing member, making it easier to secure capacity of the speaker section 12,
which will be described later.
[0027]
The speaker section 12 is a speaker box that includes, for example, one or more
speaker units (here, two speaker units 12A and 12B); on a sound output side of the
speaker units 12A and 12B, for example, a speaker grille 12C (a speaker net) is
provided. The speaker units 12A and 12B are devices that are adapted to output sound
(including music and sound effects) to the outside, and are stacked vertically on each
other at the right and the left portions of the liquid crystal panel 11. In such a
configuration, for example, the speaker unit 12A may be configured to function as a
main speaker, while the speaker unit 12B may be configured to function as a sub
speaker.
[0028]
(Stand 14)
The stand 14 is attached to a lower portion of the back surface of the liquid crystal
panel 11 by a link member 17 ((D) of Fig. 2). In the stand 14, an edge portion on the
display side (the observer side, the front side) has a predetermined curved shape in
accordance with the above-mentioned curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11. Fig.
8 illustrates a configuration of a main part of the display device 1 (the liquid crystal
panel 11, the decorative member 13, and the stand 14) viewed from the top surface.
As illustrated, an edge portion 140 on the display side of the stand 14 may have a
concave curved surface S2 whose radius of curvature is smaller than that of the display
screen (the concave curved surface S1) of the liquid crystal panel 11. On the other
hand, a back surface side of the stand 14 may be provided extending largely beyond the
liquid crystal panel 11, and an edge portion on the back side does not have a curved
shape. Thus, for example, only part of the right and the left end portions of the stand
13
14 is provided extending forwardly of the liquid crystal panel 11, while most of the
stand 14 is disposed hidden below or behind the liquid crystal panel 11 (unseen by the
observer). Accordingly, designability of the display device 1 is enhanced. The radius
of curvature of the curved shape of the stand 14 may be preferably smaller than the
radius of curvature R of the liquid crystal panel 11, specifically 4100 mm. It is to be
noted that, since the circuit boards or the like to drive the liquid crystal panel 11 are
disposed in the vicinity of the center of the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 11,
there is little possibility that the center of gravity of the liquid crystal panel 11 is largely
shifted even when the liquid crystal panel 11 has a curved shape.
[0029]
Figs. 9A to 9C illustrate other examples of the stand 14 having the curved shapes
as described above. In the above-mentioned example, the stand 14 has a continuous
(integral) shape along a long side of the liquid crystal panel 11; however, as illustrated
in Fig. 9A, a shape separated into the right and the left may be possible (stands 14a may
be provided on each of the right and the left end portions of the liquid crystal panel 11).
However, also in this case, it is desirable that the respective edge portions 141 of the
two stands 14a have the curved shapes that constitute the same concave curved surfaces
S2. Alternatively, on the right and the left end portions of the liquid crystal panel 11,
stands 14b as illustrated in Fig. 9B may be provided. Also in this case, it is desirable
that the respective edge portions 142 of the two stands 14b have curved shapes that
constitute a same concave curved surfaces S3. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 9C,
an edge portion 143 on the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel 11 may have a
curved shape that constitutes a curved surface S4. A radius of curvature of the curved
surface S4 of the edge portion 143 on the back surface side is not particularly limited;
moreover, the curved surface S4 may be either a concave curved surface or a convex
curved surface.
[0030]
14
(Belt-like Illumination Section 15)
In the present embodiment, in at least part of a peripheral region of the display
screen of the above-mentioned liquid crystal panel 11, the belt-like illumination section
15 is provided. Here, as illustrated in Fig. 1, inside the decorative members 13 that are
put over the top portion and the bottom portion of the liquid crystal panel 11, the
belt-like illumination sections 15 are provided. That is, the belt-like illumination
sections 15 are provided along top and bottom sides of the frame region of the liquid
crystal panel 11. Moreover, by providing inside the decorative member 13, it is
possible to allow light of color according to displayed image to be emitted from through
the decorative members 13 toward an observer.
[0031]
Fig. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional configuration of the belt-like illumination
section 15. The belt-like illumination section 15 is an illumination device that may
include, for example, an LED light source 170, a light guide plate 171 that allows light
produced from the LED 170 to be surface-emitted, optical function layers (a diffusion
plate 172 and a dimmer filter 173) that are stacked on the light guide plate 171.
[0032]
The light guide plate 171 may be an acrylic plate of a thickness of, for example, 2
mm, to one surface of which a general light scattering processing is applied. On the
right and the left end portions of the light guide plate 171, the LED light source 170
may be provided. The LED light source 170 may incorporate LED chips of three
colors, i.e. R, G, and B that are individually lighting-controlled; by the lighting control
of them, in the belt-like illumination section 15, color light of various tones is allowed
to be emitted. The diffusion plate 172 may have configuration in which light
scattering agent is mixed in a resin, and may be a resin plate that is generally used in a
liquid crystal display device. The dimmer filter 173 may have a configuration in
which a black resin is mixed in a transparent resin. By providing the dimmer filter 173
15
on the display side (the observer side, the front side), at the time of non-emission of the
LED light source 170, black color is observed, while at the time of emission of the LED
light source 170, the color of the emitted light is observed.
[0033]
By providing the belt-like illumination section 15 inside the decorative member 13,
it is possible to illuminate the top and bottom sides of the frame of the liquid crystal
panel 11 from black to arbitrary color and brightness. Here, the above-mentioned
effects that are similar to those of perspective due to the curved shape of the liquid
crystal panel 11 are largely affected by visual impressions of a peripheral region of the
display screen. Accordingly, by illuminating the top and bottom sides of the frame of
the liquid crystal panel 11 from black to arbitrary color and brightness, it is possible to
adjust visual effects such as three-dimensional feeling, feeling of presence, and so on
without physically changing the curved shape. For example, in a case that the
peripheral region of the display screen is in color and brightness that are hardly
visually-recognized, such as a black color, effects of the curve is minimized; on the
contrary, in a case of color and brightness that are easily visually-recognized, such as a
white color, effects of the curve is maximized. Consequently, it is possible to change
color of the frame according to, for example, the environment of the display device 1
(brightness in a room, color of a wall or a setting table, and so on), making it possible to
give enhanced feeling of immersion.
[0034]
It is to be noted that, in the above-described embodiment, in the peripheral region
(a non-display region) of the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel, as
illustrated in (A) of Fig. 2, it is desirable that a width A in the vertical direction (the Y
direction) and a width B in the horizontal direction (the X direction) satisfy A:B=1:3 or
more (B/A is 3 or more). For example, in a case that the width A in the Y direction of
the decorative member 13 is 30 mm, the width B in the horizontal direction is 120 mm
16
including the speaker section 12. Moreover, the width A of the decorative member 13
may be different between the top and the bottom; for example, a width of the decorative
member 13 on the top side may be 30 mm while a width of the decorative member 13
on the bottom side may be 50 mm. It is to be noted that, in the case that the widths are
set to be different between the top and the bottom of the display screen, the
above-mentioned condition may be satisfied with A as an average value of the widths on
the top and bottom sides. The use of such a ratio easily provides a sense of feeling as
if an aspect ratio of the display screen was higher, enhancing sense of unity and feeling
of presence.
[0035]
(Functions and Effects)
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the radius of curvature (R)
of the curved shape of the liquid crystal panel 11 is larger than 2000 mm, it is possible
to restrain cracking of the liquid crystal panel (the glass substrates) and to maintain the
curved shape. Thus, it is possible to attain curved shapes according to applications,
such as a gently curved shape that gives feeling of immersion without uncomfortable
feeling, or an extremely curved shape that surrounds an entire visual field of a user.
Hence, it is possible to obtain a desired curved shape as well as to maintain
manufacturing properties.
[0036]
Moreover, the speaker section 12 is provided on the end portion of the liquid
crystal panel 11 having a predetermined curved shape, and at least part of the speaker
section 12 is provided on a back surface opposite to the display screen. Thus, it is
possible to use space on the back surface of the panel, which is formed by the curved
shape of the liquid crystal panel 11, as setting space of the speaker section 12.
[0037]
Here, Fig. 11A schematically illustrates setting space of the speaker section 12 (of
17
speaker capacity C1) according to the present embodiment, while Fig. 11B
schematically illustrates, as a comparative example, speaker capacity C100 of an FPD
including a conventional flat liquid crystal panel 101. As illustrated in Fig. 11B, in the
comparative example, there is not enough space on the back surface side of the liquid
crystal panel 101, only a region facing the side surface of the liquid crystal panel 101 is
available for speaker capacity. In the present embodiment, since the liquid crystal
panel 11 has a predetermined curved shape, there is formed large space on the back
surface side in addition to the region facing the side surface of the liquid crystal panel
11, making it possible to use the space to secure large speaker capacity C1. Therefore,
in the present embodiment, it is easier to secure the capacity of the speaker section 12 as
compared to an FPD. Thus, in the speaker section 12, it is possible to attain, for
example, an increase in output or enhancement of sound quality, or the like.
Accordingly, it is possible to synergistically obtain auditory effects due to enhanced
performance of the sound output member in addition to visual effects
(three-dimensional feeling, sense of unity, and feeling of presence) due to the curved
shape of the liquid crystal panel 11. It is possible for an observer to obtain enhanced
feeling of immersion in a displayed image.
[0038]
Although description has been made by giving the example embodiment as
mentioned above, the contents of the present disclosure are not limited to the
above-mentioned example embodiment and may be modified in a variety of ways. For
example, in the above-described example embodiment, the front portion (the speaker
grille 12C) of the speaker section 12 is provided along a different plane direction from
the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 11 (a link portion between the panel and
the speaker is bent). The arrangement of the speaker section 12 is not limited to this,
and, for example, the speaker section 12 may be provided along a same plane direction
as the display screen (the link portion between the panel and the speaker is flat).
18
[0039]
Moreover, in the above-described example embodiment, there has been
exemplified a case that the radius of curvature of the curved shape of the liquid crystal
panel 11 is constant; however, the radius of curvature of the curved shape is not
necessarily constant, but may be gradually varied, or alternatively, a partial region may
have a different radius of curvature from that of other regions. Similarly, the curved
shape of the stand 14 is not limited to a case that the radius of curvature is constant.
[0040]
Further, for example, a material and a thickness of each layer as described in the
above-mentioned example embodiment are not limited to as exemplified above, but
other materials and other thicknesses may be adopted.
[0041]
Furthermore, for example, in the above-described example embodiment,
description has been given on specific configurations of the display device 1 (television
set). However, it is not necessary to include all the components, and another
component or other components may be further provided.
[0042]
The present disclosure may be widely applied to an electronic apparatus in various
fields that is configured to display an image or a picture based on a picture signal input
from outside or generated inside; specifically, a personal computer (PC) monitor, a
public display, and so on, as well as a television set that has been explained in the
above-described example embodiment.
[0043]
It is to be noted that the contents of the present disclosure may have the following
configurations.
(1)
A display device including a display panel having a curved shape in section along
19
one axis, the display panel including a display screen that includes a concave surface,
wherein a radius of curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is larger
than 2000 mm.
(2)
The display device according to (1),
wherein the radius of curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is
4000 mm to 8000 mm both inclusive.
(3)
The display device according to (1) or (2), including a stand that supports the
display panel,
wherein an edge portion, on an observer’s side, of the stand has a curved shape
whose radius of curvature is smaller than the radius of curvature of the display panel.
(4)
The display device according to any one of (1) to (3), further including a sound
output member,
wherein, at an end portion, along the one axis, of the display panel, at least part of
the sound output member is provided overlapping an opposite surface to the display
screen of the display panel.
(5)
The display device according to any one of (1) to (4), including an illumination
section that is provided in at least part of a peripheral region of the display screen of the
display panel, the illumination section being capable of controlling and changing at least
one of brightness and color.
(6)
The display device according to (5),
wherein the display panel has a rectangular shape, and
the illumination section is provided in a belt-like region along two opposite long
20
sides of the rectangular shape of the display panel.
(7)
The display device according to any one of (1) to (6),
wherein the display panel has a rectangular shape and has the curved shape in
section along a longitudinal direction of the rectangular shape, and
the sound output member is provided along two opposite short sides of the
rectangular shape of the display panel.
[0044]
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority Patent Application JP
2012-147323 filed on June 29, 2012, and JP 2012-238707 filed on October 30, 2012,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0045]
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications,
combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design
requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended
claims or the equivalents thereof.
21
CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A display device comprising a display panel having a curved shape in section along
one axis, the display panel including a display screen that includes a concave surface,
wherein a radius of curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is larger
than 2000 mm.
[Claim 2]
The display device according to claim 1,
wherein the radius of curvature (R) of the curved shape of the display screen is
4000 mm to 8000 mm both inclusive.
[Claim 3]
The display device according to claim 1, comprising a stand that supports the
display panel,
wherein an edge portion, on an observer’s side, of the stand has a curved shape
whose radius of curvature is smaller than the radius of curvature of the display panel.
[Claim 4]
The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a sound output
member,
wherein, at an end portion, along the one axis, of the display panel, at least part of
the sound output member is provided overlapping an opposite surface to the display
screen of the display panel.
[Claim 5]
The display device according to claim 1, comprising an illumination section that is
22
provided in at least part of a peripheral region of the display screen of the display panel,
the illumination section being capable of controlling and changing at least one of
brightness and color.
[Claim 6]
The display device according to claim 5,
wherein the display panel has a rectangular shape, and
the illumination section is provided in a belt-like region along two opposite long
sides of the rectangular shape of the display panel.
[Claim 7]
The display device according to claim 4,
wherein the display panel has a rectangular shape and has the curved shape in
section along a longitudinal direction of the rectangular shape, and
the sound output member is provided along two opposite short sides of the
rectangular shape of the display panel.