JP2011045427A - Mirror with information display function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mirror with an information display function, of low power consumption while having the display quality of a light emitting type such as an LED display. <P>SOLUTION: A fluorescence condensing plate is arranged on the back surface of a transmission liquid crystal display panel, a diffusion reflector is provided without interposing an air layer on an end face on the opposite side of the transmission liquid crystal display panel side of the fluorescence condensing plate, and a half mirror is arranged on a front surface. Thus, while various kinds of information are transmitted and displayed by light condensed by the fluorescence condensing plate when a power source is ON, it acts as a mirror surface when the power source is OFF. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mirror with an information display function applied to interior, cosmetic, security, and safety mirrors.

  In general, mirrors are familiar in daily life. For the etiquette use, the stand type is indispensable as an indoor interior. In recent years, mirrors are not limited to the function of simply reflecting a reflected image, but have been developed for functions and applications different from the original functions.

  In a mirror that displays a calendar or a clock on a mirror surface of a wall mirror or a stand mirror, there is an example in which a display unit of a liquid crystal screen is provided on the back side of a transparent part formed on the mirror surface part (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is an example in which a liquid crystal / polymer alignment panel is used for an information display device and combined with a reflective layer to provide a mirror effect (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  In addition, there is an example of a mirror in which a mirror is a half mirror and an LED display is disposed on the back side of the mirror so that light emission can be displayed in the mirror (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  Further, there is an example of a mirror that uses a birefringent dielectric multilayer film as a reflective polarizing plate to form a half mirror (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  Furthermore, there is an example relating to a liquid crystal display element that is used as a screen when the power is turned on and is used as a screen, and is a mirror surface that effectively uses the liquid crystal screen when the power is turned off (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

JP 2000-189301 A JP-A-9-329780 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-3061 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 9-506985 JP 2003-241175 A

  According to the mirror with a display function described in Patent Document 1, the transparent portion formed on the mirror surface portion is within the frame of the mirror, and this method lacks smartness in the layout of the transparent portion and is used for interiors that emphasize design. There is a drawback as a mirror.

  According to the information display device described in Patent Document 2, since the scattering-type liquid crystal display mode is used, when information is displayed with a mirror as a background, cloudy white is displayed on the mirror surface. When it is used as an interior for a living room, when the walls and ceiling are white, the white wall or ceiling is reflected in the mirror, and white is displayed on the white background, resulting in poor visibility.

  According to Patent Document 3, an example of a mirror with a clock display that can be used as a half mirror and an LED display disposed on the back side of the mirror and capable of emitting and displaying light in the mirror, Everything inside the frame is a mirror and has excellent design. However, the LED consumes a large amount of power, has a battery and has a short operating time, and generally needs to be connected to a power outlet with a cord. For this reason, it has the fault that an installation place is restricted as interior.

  Similarly, even when using a liquid crystal display that operates with low power consumption or the liquid crystal display element described in Patent Document 5, power consumption is large to use the backlight, and it is necessary to connect the power outlet with a cord. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Its main purpose is light-emitting display quality like LED display, low power consumption, no connection to a power outlet, no restrictions on installation location, and unprecedented decorative and convenient information A mirror with a display function is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention describes the following eleven inventions.

  The first aspect of the present invention is an information display function comprising a transparent substrate, a half mirror, and an information display unit in order from the viewing side, and comprising a circuit for driving the information display unit and a power source for driving the circuit In the attached mirror, the information display unit is composed of a display unit, a light collector and a diffuse reflector in order from the viewing side, and the light collector and the diffuse reflector are bonded together without an air layer. Can be displayed on the viewer side.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the light collecting plate is a fluorescent light collecting plate having a fluorescent effect.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the diffuse reflector is a polyester film in which a main component is stretched in at least one axial direction.

  In a fourth aspect based on the second aspect, the fluorescent light collector is composed of two or more fluorescent colors.

  In a fourth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the fluorescent light collector is configured with an area color having a different fluorescent color depending on the display area.

  In a sixth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the fluorescent light collecting plate is a fluorescent light collecting plate that emits different fluorescent colors in order from the daylighting port that receives external light, and the fluorescent wavelength of the fluorescent light collecting plate on the daylighting side is the daylighting value. The wavelength is shorter than the fluorescence wavelength of the fluorescent light collector on the opposite side of the mouth.

  A seventh invention is the invention according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the power source is a solar cell.

  An eighth aspect of the invention is the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the power source is a primary battery.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the display unit is a transmissive liquid crystal display panel.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the mirror with an information display function is configured to display information based on a receiving unit that receives a predetermined radio wave and contents received by the receiving unit. Control means for switching and controlling the display content of the unit.

  An eleventh aspect of the invention is the invention according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the half mirror is a reflective polarizing plate.

  In the mirror with an information display function of the present invention, when the power of the information display unit is turned on, various information is transmissively displayed using the light collected by the fluorescent light collecting plate using external light, while the information display unit is powered By providing a half mirror that acts as a mirror surface when is turned off, it is possible to achieve both low power consumption and transmissive display with good visibility. As a result, like a conventional stand mirror, it can be freely placed in an installation place where power supply cannot be obtained as an indoor interior. Furthermore, various types of information provision can be realized with a light-emitting display such as a transmissive liquid crystal or LED display without sacrificing design on the mirror background.

  Furthermore, the power is supplied from a self-supporting power source that uses a solar cell or a primary battery as a power source, and the display content of the information display unit is switched and controlled based on the content received by the receiving means. As described above, for example, when an emergency occurs, a signal to that effect can be received and the information can be displayed. Therefore, immediate attention can be drawn by a mirror that is close to the user, and safety can be ensured.

  In addition, when the radio wave correction clock is used in the mirror with an information display function of the present invention, not only the function of the mirror but also the function of the clock can be used with a self-supporting power supply that looks like a light-emitting display close to an LED display. No power cord is required. As a result, the degree of freedom of design increases and the value as an interior can be increased.

  In addition, when used for electronic shelf labels and electronic POPs (point-of-purchase advertising) at cosmetics department stores in department stores, the product information is displayed and explained as a mirror, and showcases. It can be easily placed on top, and is effective in promoting products.

The schematic diagram of the mirror with an information display function which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing of the mirror with an information display function which concerns on this invention. The (a) sectional view and (b) top view of a transmissive liquid crystal panel, a fluorescence condensing plate, and a diffuse reflection plate. Sectional drawing of the laminated | stacked fluorescence light-condensing plate.

  Hereinafter, a mirror with an information display function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a mirror with an information display function according to the present invention. The present invention is applied to a stand mirror for indoor installation. Reference numeral 5 in FIG. 1 is a transparent substrate having a substantially rectangular shape. The transparent substrate 5 is a mirror in which a reflective film is formed by vapor deposition or plating of a metal film on glass. However, in the present invention, the half mirror is formed in a region 1 indicated by a broken line in the figure. To do.

  Further, a mirror frame supports the transparent substrate 5 and a stand-up mechanism is added to form a stand mirror. Here, the mirror frame will be omitted and described below. In FIG. 1, the broken line 6 indicates the information display unit, and the characters in the area displaying “7:30 minutes” are displayed in the emission color of the fluorescent light collecting plate. This area becomes a mirror, and for example, the user can see the information display unit 6 while looking at his / her face.

  When the reflectance R of the half mirror 1 is 30% ≦ R ≦ 70%, the transmittance is a value excluding the amount absorbed in the film. Therefore, since the brightness of the mirror and the brightness of the display part are a trade-off, the ratio of transmission and reflection of the half mirror is set according to the purpose of use. The metal film can be formed by depositing aluminum or a silver alloy with a film forming apparatus such as vacuum deposition or sputtering. In order to further reduce absorption, an inorganic oxide such as a reflection increasing film may be added to the metal film. .

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mirror with an information display function, as seen from the right side of the cross section taken along the cutting line A-A ′ shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, a stand mirror for indoor installation is assumed. In FIG. 2, the transparent substrate 5 on the left side of the drawing is the viewing side, and corresponds to the direction in which the user visually recognizes when using the mirror with an information display function of the present invention. A transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2 is used for the display section of the information display section 6 capable of displaying various kinds of information, a fluorescent light collector 3 is disposed on the back surface thereof, and the fluorescent light collector 3 is opposite to the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2 side. The diffuse reflection plate 4 was bonded to the end face on the side without an air layer, and the half mirror 1 was formed on the transparent substrate 5 and disposed on the front surface of the information display unit 6. Further, an optical adhesive is used between the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2, the fluorescent light collecting plate 3 and the half mirror 1 without using an air layer to make a close contact, and an interval of 10 μm or more is provided. Although not shown, the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2, the fluorescent light collector 3, and the half mirror 1 are separately fixed by supporting means.

  Although not shown, the information display unit 6 is a transmission type liquid crystal display panel 2, a fluorescent light collector 3, and a diffuse reflector 4, and the display content is switched based on the reception means that receives a predetermined radio wave and the reception content of the reception means. It is comprised by the primary battery used as the control means to control, a power supply, or a secondary battery, a capacitor, a solar cell, etc. Various information is transmitted and displayed by the light collected by the fluorescent light collecting plate 3 when the power of the information display unit 6 is turned on, while it functions as a mirror surface when the information display unit 6 is turned off.

  The transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2 is useful because it uses liquid crystal in a display mode that does not transmit when no voltage is applied, and does not require power when it is a full mirror. As such a display mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode is used. The VA mode is a mode with excellent visibility since it has a high contrast ratio when viewed from the front and a wide viewing angle.

In the VA mode, a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε) whose initial alignment state is substantially perpendicular to the substrate (vertical alignment) is sandwiched between a pair of substrates. It is sandwiched between a pair of polarizing plates and a phase compensation film arranged so as to form a crossed Nicol. When a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer through the electrode formed on the substrate surface, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal becomes parallel to the substrate. Thereby, the part to which the voltage is applied transmits light due to the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal, and does not transmit the light when no voltage is applied. In addition, as the liquid crystal, for example, a negative liquid crystal mode such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) method or a STN (Super-Twisted Nematic) method can be used.

  In addition, when a memory-type liquid crystal is used, power is not consumed except when information is rewritten, so that power consumption can be saved when the same information is displayed for a long time. For a large amount of information display, the active matrix driving method using TFT elements can be used. In this case, it is desirable to adopt a method in which the drive frequency is reduced to about 1 Hz in order to reduce power consumption.

  The fluorescent light collector 3 is a plate made of polymethyl methacrylate (hereinafter referred to as PMMA) in which a fluorescent material is dispersed, and the color development can be selected by changing the type of the fluorescent material. In the embodiment, when rhodamine is used as the red phosphor, the wavelength of 400 to 600 nm is absorbed from the incident light, and the red light (wavelength of 600 to 700 nm) is emitted as fluorescence. Further, when coumarin is used as the green phosphor, the wavelength of 400 to 500 nm is absorbed from the incident light, and the green light (wavelength of 500 to 600 nm) is emitted as fluorescence. Similarly, orange and yellow colors can be developed, and semiconductor nanoparticle phosphors can be used in addition to organic phosphors.

  The diffuse reflection plate 4 is a film-like material attached with the fluorescent light collecting plate 3 with a transparent adhesive. Not limited to film, it may be paper or white pigment, and is not particularly limited as long as the spectral reflectance at a wavelength of 450 to 750 nm is 90% or more. As a film, a material in which a large number of fine bubbles are formed inside a thermoplastic resin has a high light reflectance and can be used. This film appears white with non-directional reflections. The thermoplastic resin is not particularly limited as long as it can form a film by melt extrusion, and preferred examples include polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, polyphenylene sulfide and the like.

  As the above-mentioned fine bubbles, those produced by a known method, for example, (1) a polyester and an incompatible thermoplastic resin are added, and after melt extrusion, the film is stretched uniaxially or biaxially. And (2) those obtained by adding organic and inorganic fine particles and then melt-extrusion and then extending uniaxially or biaxially. In the present invention, the reflective interface is formed by forming fine bubbles. More preferably increased. That is, what was manufactured by said method is more preferable.

  The above film can be easily obtained on the market, and examples thereof include a reflective film of Toray Industries, Ltd., Lumirror E60L type, E60V type, E6L type, and 6SV type. Even a Lumirror E20 type to which white inorganic fine particles are added may be used although it is inferior in performance. You may also use similar products from other companies.

  FIG. 3 illustrates the functions of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 2, the fluorescent light collector 3 and the diffuse reflector 4 according to the present invention. (A) In the cross-sectional view, when outside light 8 from an illumination such as a fluorescent lamp is incident on the fluorescent light collecting plate 3 in the room, a part of the wavelength band of the incident light is absorbed by the phosphor 9 and emitted as fluorescence. The star mark of the phosphor 9 schematically shows how the light emitted from light is directed in all directions. The phosphors 9 are molecules dispersed in the PMMA and do not exist in the form of particles as shown in the figure, but are dispersed and emitted throughout the fluorescent light collector 3. Since PMMA has a refractive index higher than that of air, most of the light emitted inside the fluorescent light collecting plate 3 satisfies the condition of total reflection, so that it is confined inside the fluorescent light collecting plate 3.

  In addition, the diffuse reflector 4 is bonded to the end face of the fluorescent light collector 3 opposite to the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2 side without an air layer. Due to the diffusing action of the diffusive reflecting plate 4, the diffuse reflected light 11 is emitted from the opposite end face and illuminated from the back surface of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2 as the liquid crystal panel illumination light 10.

  Here, the illuminance illuminated from the back surface of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel is the outside light capturing area, length (L) × width (W) of the fluorescent light collector 3 and the emission area, height (H) of the fluorescent light collector 3. * Depends on the ratio of width (W). That is, it is equal to the ratio between the height (H) and the length (L), and the length (L) is made larger than the height (H), so that the light condensing effect is improved, and from the back side of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel. Illuminance can be increased.

  Further, in the spectrum of the indoor fluorescent lamp, the absorption efficiency varies depending on the fluorescent color of the phosphor 9. Therefore, the illumination intensity illuminated from the back of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel can be controlled by changing the length (L) of the fluorescent light collector 3 depending on the fluorescent color. As a result of examination in this example, the length (L) is required to be at least twice the height (H) for the red phosphor, and the length (L) is required to be at least five times the height (H) for the green phosphor. It was.

  The reflecting plate 7 shown in the top view of FIG. 3B is a specular reflection mirror. When the room lighting is limited to the ceiling, the reflecting plate 7 is limited to the incident light from the upper side. This has the effect of preventing the emitted fluorescence from leaking. If the light can be taken from the side, it is not necessary to provide the reflecting plate 7.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the form of the laminated fluorescent light collector 3. The fluorescent light collecting plates 3 that emit different fluorescent colors are stacked one above the other, and the upper fluorescent light collecting plate 12 has a shorter wavelength than the lower fluorescent light collecting plate 13. An air layer is desirable between the upper fluorescent light collecting plate 12 and the lower fluorescent light collecting plate 13, and by maintaining a gap of 10 μm or more, it is possible to prevent the upper and lower fluorescent colors from being mixed. Since the absorption coefficient with respect to the wavelength band in which the external light incident on the upper fluorescent light collector 12 is absorbed by the phosphor is shifted, the upper fluorescent light collector 12 has a shorter fluorescence wavelength than the lower fluorescent light collector 13. The light that could not be absorbed by the fluorescent light collecting plate 12 is absorbed by the lower fluorescent light collecting plate 13, so that the lower fluorescent light collecting plate 13 can also maintain brightness. Further, the brightness of the lower fluorescent light collector 13 can also be maintained by making the length (L) of the lower fluorescent light collector 13 longer than the length (L) of the upper fluorescent light collector 12.

  Next, as a method for reducing the absorption of the half mirror, a reflective polarizing plate can be used as the half mirror. A birefringent dielectric multilayer film was used as the reflective polarizing plate. This birefringent dielectric multilayer film has a function of reflecting a predetermined linearly polarized light component and transmitting a polarized light component other than the predetermined linearly polarized light component. Details of such a birefringent dielectric multilayer film are disclosed in Patent Document 4. Such a reflective polarizer is commercially available as DBEF (trade name) from 3M USA and is generally available. In addition to this, a grit reflective polarizing plate or a reflective polarizing plate using a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer may be used.

Since the light emitted from the transmissive liquid crystal panel is linearly polarized light, the loss due to absorption can be eliminated by aligning the transmission axis of the reflective polarizing plate with the axis of linearly polarized light emitted from the transmissive liquid crystal panel. In the case of a half mirror, the reflected light due to reflection may be reflected multiple times between the half mirror and the reflective transmission type liquid crystal panel, which may deteriorate the display quality as stray light, but the reflection can be reduced by using a reflective polarizing plate. Stray light can be reduced and display quality can be improved.

  The mirror with an information display function according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a predetermined radio wave, a control unit that switches and controls display contents based on the received content of the receiving unit, and a primary battery, a secondary battery, or a capacitor that serves as a power source. It is composed of solar cells. The power consumption varies depending on the operating state. For example, it receives information and consumes a relatively large amount of power when updating the information. At other times, only the portion related to display operates. Therefore, power consumption increases during reception, and less power is required otherwise than during reception. Correspondingly, it is also possible to use a method in which a part of the power generated by the solar battery is stored in the secondary battery and the power of the secondary battery is used during reception.

  In this embodiment, since a stand-type mirror for indoor use is assumed, an amorphous silicon solar cell with good power generation efficiency is used in an indoor fluorescent lamp, and power is supplied when power consumption increases due to a secondary battery and a capacitor. Power supply management ensures power supply independence.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Half mirror 2 Transmission-type liquid crystal panel 3 Fluorescence light-condensing plate 4 Diffuse reflecting plate 5 Transparent substrate 6 Information display part 7 Reflecting plate 8 External light 9 Phosphor 10 Liquid crystal panel illumination light 11 Diffuse reflected light 12 Upper fluorescent light collecting plate 13 Lower fluorescent light collection Light plate

Claims (11)

It is composed of a transparent substrate, a half mirror and an information display part in order from the viewing side.
A circuit for driving the information display unit;
A power source for driving the circuit;
In the mirror with information display function
The information display unit is composed of a display unit, a light collector and a diffuse reflector in order from the viewer side, and the light collector and the diffuse reflector are bonded together without an air layer, and various information is displayed on the viewer side. Mirror with information display function that can be displayed.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the light collecting plate is a fluorescent light collecting plate having a fluorescent effect.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diffuse reflector is a polyester film having a main component extending in at least one axial direction.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 2, wherein the fluorescent light collecting plate is configured with two or more fluorescent colors.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 4, wherein the fluorescent light collecting plate is configured with an area color having a different fluorescent color depending on a display area.   The fluorescent light collecting plate is the fluorescent light collecting plate that develops different fluorescent colors in order from a light receiving port that receives external light, and a fluorescent wavelength of the fluorescent light collecting plate on the light collecting port side is the fluorescent light collecting plate on the side opposite to the light collecting port. The mirror with an information display function according to claim 4, wherein the mirror has a wavelength shorter than the fluorescence wavelength of the light plate.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a solar battery.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a primary battery.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a transmissive liquid crystal display panel.   The said mirror with an information display function is provided with the receiving means which receives a predetermined | prescribed radio wave, and the control means which switches and controls the display content of the said information display part based on the reception content of the said reception means. A mirror with an information display function according to claim 1.   The mirror with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror is a reflective polarizing plate.

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