Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a display and
more particularly to a liquid crystal display suited for a
hand-held desk-top garne apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the
appearance of a hand-held type game apparatus taken as one
example of a conventional liquid crystal display.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the
appearance of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the
line III-III in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 and is a
sectional view of another embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an
appearance of still a further embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 6 is a plan view of -the Figure 5
embodiment;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the
line VII-VII in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a right side view, partially
fragmentary, of the Figure 5 embodiment;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of still a further
: 25 embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10 is a sectional view of still a further
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one
example of a preferred arrangement of the liquid crystal
plate and the color filter for use in the embodiments
shown in Figures 9 and 10;
Figure 12 is a sectional view of -the Figure 11
embodiment;
Figure 13 is a view for explaining the advantage
of the color filter shown in Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a view showing one example oE a
display embodied as a game apparatus;
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Figure 15 is a view showing one example of a
preferred arrangement of the liquid crystal plate and the
color filter for use in the Figure 5 embodimen-t,
Figure 16 is a view showing an example of
another preferred arrangement of the liquid crystal plate
and the color filter for use in the Figure 5 embodiment;
and
Figure 17 is a block diagram showing an outline
of a liquid crystal display control of the Figure 2
1~ embodiment. The hand-held type game apparatus shown in
Figure 1 as an example of a conventional liquid crystal
display 1 may be similar to that disclosed in United
Kingdom Published Application No. 2,070,810 and German
Published Patent Application (OLS) No. DE 3,024,041 but
such game apparatus will be described briefly to the
extent required for describing the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a housing 2 comprises a
liquid crystal display portion 3 at a portion of the upper
surface of the housing 2. The housing 2 further
comprises, at the other portions of the upper surface
thereof, game mode switches 6 to 9 for commanding a start
of a game mode and for selecting the degree of difficulty
of playing a game and character moving/changing switches 4
and 5 for moving and changing a predetermined character
displayed on the liquid crystal display portion 3.
Usually such liquid crystal display comprises a
reflecting plate, not shown, on the rear surface of the
liquid crystal display portion 3, i.e. on the surface at
the side of the housing 2. A light beam incident upon the
liquid crystal display portion 3 frGm outside ~he housing
2 is transmitted through the liquid crystal display
portion 3 and then the light beam is reflected from the
reflecting plate, not shown, provided on the rear surface
thereof and is again led outside the liquid crystal
display portion 3 after transmission thereof through the
liquid crystal display portion 3. However, in the case
where a segment electrode, not shown, formed in the liquid
crystal display portion 3 is driven for display, the light
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beam inciden-t upon the segment electrode portion is
scattered or absorbed, depending on the nature of the
liquid crystal, with the result that the light beam does
not reach the reflecting plate. Accordingly, the segment
electrode portion being driven for display has a low
brightness as compared with that in the other portions,
whereby the difference in brightness produces an image
which is displayed on the liquid crystal display portion
3. More specifically, a user observes a light beam
reflected from the liquid crystal display portion 3,
thereby to recognize the information being displayed by
the liquid crystal display portion 3. However, since the
conventional liquid crystal display 1 has at the same side
a light receiving surface where a light beam from outside
is received by the liquid crystal display portion 3 and
also a light image observing surface where an image is
displayed by a light beam reflected from the liquid
crystal display portion 3, a problem occurred in that it
could happen that the image became difficult to obse.ve,
depending on the surrounding brightness and the angle at
which the liquid crystal display portion 3 was observed.
The reasons will be described in the Eollowing
by taking a specific example.
More specifically, in the case where the
surrounding brightness during observation of the liquid
crystal display 1 is dark, the absolute amount of light
impinging upon the liquid crystal display 3 is decreased,
whereby a contrast between -the segment electrode portion
driven for display and the portion other than the driven
portion is decreased, and whereby discrimination
therebetween therefore becomes less easy. Conversely,
when the surrounding brightness in which the liquid
crystal display 1 is observed is increased, an ample light
beam amount is obtained and the above-described problem
will be eliminated. However, in such a case the amount of
light reflected from an outer glass surface of -the liquid
crystal display portion 3 is correspondingly increased.
Therefore, depending on the angle at which the
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liquid crystal display portion 3 is observed, the amountof light reflected from the outer glass surface of the
liquid crystal display portion 3 becomes larger than that
reflected from the reflecting plate. In such a case, it
S becomes difficult for a user to discern, from a background
area as viewed on the outer glass surface, the image being
displayed on the liquid crystal display portion 3. For
example, if and when a light source per se is seen on the
outer glass surface, the image being displayed becomes
hardly visible. In particular, since a hand-held
electronic machine, such as a game apparatus, a pocket
calculator, an electronic wristwatch, or the like, having
a liquid crystal display, is observed by a user while the
same is held by hand, the viewing direction and the outer
light beam direction are not constant and accordingly the
above-described problems are caused more often.
Briefly described, the present invention
provides a game apparatus for playing a video type game,
comprising, housing means made of an opaque material, a
mirror mounted in a recessed position in the housing means
for forming at least a viewing surface, a light
transmitting portion in the housing means for introducing
light in an incoming direction from above into the housing
means, the light transmitting portion having light
scattering means for scattering the light into the housing
means, a liquid crystal plate located below and close to
the light transmitting portion inside the housing means
for receiving the light from the light transmitting
portion and for selectively transmitting light for
displaying a plurality of characters in an outgoing
direction on the viewing surface, the liquid crystal plate
having a plurality of display segments which become
transparent when driven, color filter means located in a
face-to-face manner relative to at least one surface of
the liquid crystal plate, the color filter means including
a plurality of color filter regions each facing a
respective one of the display segments of the liquid
crystal plate so that a color filter region and the
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respective display segment form members of a pair, one of
the members of a pair being shaped as the respective
character of the characters and the other of the members
of a pair having a size covering the character, at least
two of the plurality of color regions of the color Eilter
means being of different colors, the mirror bein~ arranged
to reflect from the viewing surface to a viewer light in
an outgoing direction transmitted through the liquid
crystal plate to the mirror, display control means located
inside the housing means and responsive to internal
programs or operation signals provided thereto for
selectively driving the display segments of the liquid
crystal plate for playing a game, and operating means
located in or on the housing means forward of the mirror
in the outgoing direction and at a position below the
light transmitted in the outgoing direction, the operating
means being operatively connected to the display control
means for providing the operation signals for the display
control means.
Preferably, the housing means include window
means for allowing the light to pass from the housing
means to the viewer after reflection by the mirror, and
the mirror is spaced sufficiently from the window means
that the opaque material of the housing means screens out
external light, other than the light passing through the
light transmitting portion, to increase the contrast of an
image on the viewing surface.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mirror,
the light transmitting portion and the liquid crystal
plate are located between a pair of side walls and in
front of a rear wall, the side and rear walls being formed
by the opaque material and shielding the mirror from
extraneous light.
The invention further provides a display for
displaying at least two characters in different colors,
comprising, a liquid crystal plate including a laminated
structure of a transparent electrode layer having at least
two segment electrodes associated with at least two
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characters, and a liquid crystal layer substantially
transparent in a portion corresponding to the segment
electrodes for displaying the characters, the liquid
crystal plate being adapted for receiving light on one
surface of the liquid crystal plate and for emitting light
from the other surface of the liquid crystal plate, and
color filter means located to Eace one surface of the
liquid crystal plate, the color filter means including at
least two colored regions of different colors respectively
opposite at least two segment electrodes.
The advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed
description of embodiments of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with Figures 2 to 17 of the
accompanying drawings.
Referring firstly to Figures 2 and 3, it will be
apparent that Figure 3 shows only a structure of a portion
of interest to the present invention for facility of
description and that a scheme for driving a liquid crystal
display has been omitted. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a
housing 10 is formed at the top thereof with a light
transmitting portion 11 for transmitting a light beam from
the outside into the inside of the housing 10. The light
transmitting portion 11 comprises a ground glass 20
serving as means for scattering a light beam. By the
provision of the ground glass 20, a light beam 25 from the
outside is uniformly scattered into the housing 10. A
polyethylene sheet having a rough surface may be used in
place of the ground glass 20. In such a case, a
transparent glass is first mounted on the light
transmitting portion 11 and then the above-described
polyethylene sheet may be mounted thereon.
The front surface 12 of the housing 10 is formed
as a curved surface. A window 13 is formed at a portion
of the front surface of the housing 10. The housing 10 is
further provided at the other portions of the fron-t
surface 12 with mode switches 17 to 19 and character
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moving/changing switches 15 and 16, as in the case of the
apparatus of Figure 1.
On the other hand, a liquid crystal plate 30 and
a mirror 14 are held inside the housing 10 at a
predetermined ~ositional relation. More specifically, the
liquid crystal plate 30 is disposed below the light
transmitting portion 11 so that the light beam 25 coming
from the outside through the ground glass 20 is directly
fed thereto. The liquid crystal plate 30 compxises a
twisted nematic type liquid crystal layer 22 and polarized
filters 23 and 24 formed on both surfaces thereoE.
However, in the case where another type of liquid crystal
layer is employed, a polarized filter may be provided on
only one surface thereof or may be omitted.
The mirror 14 is disposed further below the
liquid crystal plate 30 at a predetermined angle. More
specifically, the mirror 14 is disposed so that light
beams transmitted through the liquid crystal plate 30 are
reflected from the mirror 14 in the direction toward the
window 13. Accordingly, a user can observe through the
window 13 an image being displayed on the liquid crystal
plate 30 and projected onto the mirror 14. The mirror 14
is preferably disposed at the angle of approximately 45
with respect to the liquid crystal plate 30. It has been
observed by experimentation of the present inventors that,
by doing so, the displayed image of the liquid crystal
plate becomes most clearly visible.
Figure 17 is a block diagram showing an outline
structure of a liquid crystal display control of the
Figure 2 embodiment. Basically the liquid crystal display
control comprises a game control circuit 300. The display
30 is connected to be driven by a decoder/driver 600 for
receiving a signal from the game control circuit 300 and
for displaying a figure, and a decoder/driver 700 for
receiving a signal from the game control circuit 300 and
for displaying a numerical value. The game control
circuit 300 is connected to the various switches 15, 16,
17, 18 and 19 described in conjunction with Figure 2. The
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game control circuit 300 is responsive to operation of or
an operational state of, the character moving/changing
switches 15 and 16 to supply the data for driving for
display the segment electrodes formed on the display 30
through data buses 306a, 307a and 308a. The game control
circuit 300 is further responsive to operation of the mode
switches 17, 18 and 19 to supp:Ly the data for selecting a
game start or a game mode to the decoder/driver 600
through a data bus 309a. At the same time the game
control circuit 300 provides score point data attained by
a player through operation of the character
moving/changing switches 15 and 16 through a bus 315a to
the decoder/driver 700. Accordingly, the display 30
displays the score point data at the numerical value
display portion 30a.
Since the Figure 2 embodiment is structured in
the above described manner, the angle at which the image
displayed of the liquid crystal plate 30 is observed
becomes substantially constant and as a result easiness of
observation can be always secured. Furthermore, since the
side where the user observes the displayed image of the
liquid crystal plate 30 and the side where the light beam
25 from the outside enters into the liquid crystal plate
30 are different, an image being displayed can be clearly
observed without being influenced by the surrounding
brightness.
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but shows a
sectional view of another embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to Figure 4, the mirror 14 is
disposed below the light transmitting portion 11 of the
housing 10 so that the light beam 25 from the outside,
transmitted through the ground glass 20, may be directly
received. The mirror 14 is held in the housing 10 at the
angle selected such that the received light beam may be
reflected thereby in the direction toward the window 13.
The liquid crystal plate 30 is held in the housing 10 50
as to be positioned between the window 13 and the mirror
14. Accordingly, in the Figure 4 embodiment a viewer
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directly observes the liquid crystal plate 30 through the
window 13, unlike the Figure 2 embodiment. The light
transmitting portion 11 is not provided above the liquid
crystal plate 30. As a result, the light beam 25 coming
Erom the outside through the light transmitting portion 11
does not directly impinge upon the liquid crystal plate 30
to be reflected therefrom, whereby an image being
displayed of the liquid crystal plate 30 can be more
clearly observed. More preferably, a light shielding
plate 27 may be provided as shown by the dotted line in
Figure 4.
As in the case of the embodiment shown in
Figures 2 and 3, the Figure 4 embodiment also separates
the side where the liquid crystal plate 30 is observed by
a viewer and the side where the light beams 25 coming from
the outside enter onto the liquid crystal plate 30 and
accordingly makes it possible to observe an image being
displayed clearly without being influenced by the
surrounding brightness.
Meanwhile, by providing a light source 26 to be
energized by a battery, not shown, for example as shown by
dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4, an image being displayed
of the liquid crystal plate 30 can be clearly observed
even in dark surroundings. Since it would be seldom that
an image being displayed is observed using such light
source 26, power consumption by the light source 26 may be
small. Since usually an external incident light beam is
available from upward, the light transmitting portion 11
is provided on the top of the housing 10 in the
embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4, so that the best
light receiving condition may be attained. However,
depending on the positional situation between the liquid
crystal plate 30 and the mirror 14, the light transmitting
portion 11 may be provided at the side or the rear of the
housing 10.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the
appearance of a hand-held type game apparatus in
accordance with still a further embodiment of the present
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invention and particularly showing the appearance of the
same when in use. Figure 6 is a plan view of the Figure 5
embodiment. The liquid crystal display of Figures 5 and 6
comprises a base 101, a first housing portion 103 and a
second housing portion 102. The base 101 is provided with
character moving/changing switches 113, 114a, 115 and 116
and game mode switches 117 to 119, as in the case of -the
Figure 1 game apparatus. The second housing portion 102
is rotatably supported at one end thereof by the base 101.
A mirror 114 is housed in the second housing portion 102.
A window 105 is formed in the second housing
portion 102, so that the mirror 114 may be exposed. On
the other hand, the first housing portion 103 is rotatably
supported at one end thereof by the other end of the
second housing portion 102.
As to be fully described subsequently, a liquid
crystal plate is housed in the first housing portion 103~
A light transmitting portion 111 for transmitting a light
beam 125 from the outside into the inside of the housing
103 is provided on the top surface of the first housing
portion 103. A ground glass 120 is mounted on the light
transmitting portion 111 by way of a light scattering
means. Provision of the ground glass 120 makes it
possible to scatter the light beam 125 from the outside
uniformly onto the surface of the liquid crystal plate
housed in the first housing portion 103. A polyethylene
sheet having a rough surface may be utilized in place of
the ground glass 120.
Meanwhile, although not shown in Figure 5, a
light transmitting window (see Figure 8) is formed on the
lower surface of the first housing portion 103.
Accordingly, the light beam 125 from the outside is
introduced through the ground glass 120 into the inside of
the first housing portion 103 and impinges upon the mirror
114 after tlle same is transmitted through the liquid
crys-tal plate (see Figures 7 and 8) housed inside the
first housinq portion 103. The light beam reflected from
the mirror 114 is observed by a viewer, for example. More
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specifically, the viewer observes an image being displayed
of the liquid crystal plate as projected onto the mirror
114.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the structure of
the liquid crystal display 100 will be described in more
detail.
As shown in Figure 7, the base 101 is provided
with a switch base plate 141. The switch base plate 141
is connected to one end of a connection line 142. The
connection line 142 is introduced through the inside of
the second housing portion 102 into the first housing
portion 103. A liquid crystal display base plate 143 is
provided inside the first housing portion 103 and the
other end of the connection line 142 is connected to a
liquid crystal driving means, not shown, formed on the
liquid crystal display base plate 143. The liquid crystal
plate 130 is provided on the portions in the liquid
crystal display base plate 143 facing the light
transmitting portion 111 and the light transmitting window
20 106. The liquid crystal plate 130 is driven by the liquid
crystal display driver provided on the liquid crystal
display base plate 143. Batteries 146 and 147 are housed
in the base plate 101 so that an electric power required
for driving the liquid crystal plate 130 is supplied from
25 these batteries 146 and 147. A color filter 131 for
enabling multicolored display is provided on the liquid
crystal plate 130. The color filter 131 will be described
subsequently.
The second housing portion 102 is pivoted by a
30 shaft 148 supported at both ends thereof by the base 101,
whereby the same is mounted onto the base 101. The second
housing portion 102 is bent in the vicinity of one end
ther-eof, so that an end surface 149 of the bent portion is
formed to extend on an arcuate portion with the shaft 148
as the center thereof. A plurality of recesses are formed
at the end surface 149 of the bent portion. Accordingly,
the bent end surface 149 is formed in a corrugated fashion
in section. On the other hand, a leaf spring 151 fixed by
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means of a screw 150 is provided inside the base 101. The
leaf spring 151 is provided to extend in the direction of
one end surface 149 of the second housing portion 102. A
protruding portion 152 fitted into the recess formed at
the end surface 149 of the bent portion is provided in the
vicinity of the end thereof. More specifically, with the
protruding portion 152 fitted into the recess of the end
surface 149 of the bent portion, the second housing
portion 102 is supported with respect to the base 101. If
and when the second housing portion 102 is raised or
turned down against the spring force of the leaf spring
151, the protruding portion 152 can be fitted into any of
the recesses. Accordingly, the second housing portion 102
is held at an angle as selected with respect to the base
15 101
One end of the first housing portion 103 is
journaled by the shaft 153 supported by the second housing
portion 102 at both ends thereof, so that the same is
rotatably supported with respect to the second housing
20 portion 102. The second housing portion 102 has the other
end bent in the direc-tion opposite to the bending
direction in the vicinity of one end described previously.
The bent portion is formed in a fan shape in the shaft 153
as the center. Furthermore, recesses 155 and 156 are
formed on the arcuate surface 154 of the bent portion. On
the other hand, a cylinder 157 having a notch formed in
the width direction of the liquid crystal display 100 is
formed on the sealing portion of the first housing portion
103. A spring 158 is mounted inside the cylinder 157. A
shaft 160 is mounted extending in the width direction of
the liquid crystal display 100 so as to be fitted into the
notches of the cylinder 157. Accordingly, the shaft 160
is normally urged to be in pressure contact with the
arcuate surface 154 at the end of the second housing
portion 102. Therefore, with the liquid crystal display
10Q folded, the shaft 160 is fitted into the recess 156,
whereby a ~olded state is maintained. Conversely, when
the liquid crystal display 100 is expanded as shown in
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Figure 8, the shaft 160 is fitted into the recess 155,
whereby the first housing portion 103 is maintained with
the same expanded with respect to the second housing
portion 102. Thus, the shaft 160 serving as a supporting
S member of the first housing portion 103 is simply mounted
into the notch oE the cylinder 157, without any necessity
for any tiresome step of screwing. Therefore, the
assembling process is simplified and the number of
components can be decreased.
It has been found by experimentation that a
displayed image of the liquid crystal plate 130 can be
most readily viewed when the surfaces of the liquid
crystal plate 130 and the mirror 114 subtend an angle of
approximately 45. Therefore, the apparatus is structured
such that the angle subtended by the first housing portion
103 and the second housing portion 102 is approximately
45 with the shaft 160 fitted into the recess 155.
As is clear from the above described structure,
since the Figure 5 embodiment has the side where the
liquid crystal plate 130 is viewed by a viewer and the
side where the light beam 125 from the outside is
introduced onto the liquid crystal plate 130 at different
sides, an image being displayed can be viewed very clearly
without being influenced by the surrounding brightness.
Furthermore, since the housing portion where the liquid
crystal plate 130 is housed and the housing portion where
the mirror 114 is fixed are separate, while being
rotatably coupled, these housing portions are foldable and
as a result a very compact liquid crystal display can be
provided. In addition, since the base 101 and the second
housing 102 are structured so that the angle therebetween
may be selectable, the light receiving direction and the
reflecting direction from the mirror can be adjusted
depending upon the surrounding conditions, with the result
that the best display state can always be attained.
The Figure 9 embodiment is similar to the Figure
3 embodiment, except that a color filter 31 for displaying
characters in multiple colors is provided in the vicinity
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of the liquid crystal plate 30 and a smoked plate 32 is
provided in the vicinity of the window 13. Since those
portions of the Figure 9 embodiment other than that
described above are substantially the same as those of the
Figure 3 embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the
same reference characters and a detailed description
thereoE is omitted.
As to be described subsequently, the color
filter 31 comprises a plurality of color regions, whereby
the characters being displayed can be displayed in
multiple colors. The smoked plate 32 may be made of an
acrylic resin plate of a natural gray. Provision of the
smoked plate 32 in the vicinity of the window 13 can
prevent the surface of the liquid crystal plate (the
surface at the side of the polarized filter 24) from
becoming too light due to the light beam incident from the
window 13, which could otherwise make the display unclear.
The Figure 10 embodiment is similar to the
Figure 4 embodiment but is different in that a color
filter 31 for displaying characters being displayed in
multiple colors is provided in the vicinity of the liquid
crystal plate 30 and a smoked plate 32 is provided in the
vicinity of the window 13. Since the remaining portions
of the Figure 10 embodiment are substantially the same as
those of the Figure 4 embodiment, the same portions are
denoted by the same reference characters and detailed
description thereof will be omitted. The effects brought
about by provision of the color filter 31 and the smoked
plate 32 are also the same as those in the case of the
Figure 9 embodiment.
Figure 11 is a view showing a preferred example
of the liquid crystal plate 30 and the color filter 31 for
use in the embodiments depicted in conjunction with
Figures 9 and 10. Display segments 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d
are formed on the liquid crystal layer 22. The liquid
crystal layer 22 is of a twisted nematic type, as
described previously and the polarized filters 23 and 2
are formed on both surfaces. The polarization axes of
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these polarized filters 23 and 24 are selected in a
predetermined relation, so that the light beam incident
upon the portion other than the display segments 22a to
22d selectively driven for display is not transmitted
therethrough. More specifically, the liquid crystal plate
30 comprising the liquid crystal layer 22 and the
polarized filters 23 and 24 can transmit light beams only
at the display segment portions which are selectively
driven for display.
Meanwhile, it goes without saying that such
struc-ture may be implemented using a liquid crystal layer
of a type other than a twisted nematic type. However,
employment of a twisted nematic type of a liquid crystal
layer makes it possible to provide the above-described
liquid crystal plate 30 with a simple structure.
The color filter 31 is disposed in the vicinity
of and to facing the above-described liquid crystal plate
30. The color filter 31 comprises a transparent film such
as a polyester film. The transparent film includes filter
portions 31a to 31d and an opaque portion 31e, shown
hatched in Figure 11 and formed through a screening
process. The filter portions 31a to 31d are formed to
cover at least the display segments 22a to 22d at the
positions facing the display segments 22a to 22d,
respectively. These filter portions 31a to 31d are each
formed as a filter allowing for transmission of only a
light beam of a color in which display of the display
segments 22a to 22d is desired. For example, in the case
where it is desired that the display segment 22a is
displayed in red, the display segment 22b is displayed in
yellow, the display segment 22c is displayed in blue and
the display segment 22d is displayed in green, the filter
portion 31a is formed as a red color filter, the filter
portion 31b is formed as a yellow color filter, the filter
portion 22c is formed as a blue color filter, and the
filter portion 22d is formed as a green color filter. The
color filter 31 may be implemented by forming the filter
portions 31a to 31d and the opaque portion 31e separately,
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these members then being combined to consti-tute the color
filter 31.
As shown in Figure 12, the light beam
transmitted through the color filter 31 is introduced to
impinge upon the liquid crystal plate 30. The light beam
incident upon the liquid crystal plate 30 is allowed to
transmit only the display segment portion being
selectively driven Eor display. The reason is that only
the polarization axis of the light beam transmitting
through the display segment being selectively driven for
display comes to coincide with the polarization axis of
the polarization filter 24, whereas the light beam
transmitted through the other portion comes to deviate by
90 from the polarization axis of the polarization filter
24.
Since the filter portions 31a to 31d are
disposed to face the display segments 22a to 22d,
respectively, the display segments 22a to 22d can be
displayed in desired colors.
As shown in Figure 13, the liquid crystal layer
22 is formed with a common electrode 34 shown by a dotted
line and a plurality of segment electrodes 33a to 33d.
The overlapping portions, as hatched, between the segment
electrodes 33a to 33d and the common electrode 34
constitute the display segments 22a to 22d, respectively,
shown in Figure 11. In the case where it is desired to
display the display segment 22a, for example, using the
above-described liquid crystal layer 22, a voltage is
applied between the segment electrode 33a and the common
electrode 34 by means of a display driving means, not
shown. In forming an image in the liquid crystal layer
22, it is necessary that the segment electrode and the
common electrode coincide with each other. However,
depending on the arrangement or the number of the display
segments 22a to 22d, it could happen that an overlapping
portion X of the electrodes is formed at a portion other
than the display segments 22a to 22d, as shown in Figure
13. If and when the display segment 22c is to be
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displayed in the case of the Figure 13 embodiment, for
example, the overlapping portion X of the electrodes can
also be displayed, whereby an image could appear in an
undesired portion. Therefore, in drafting an image being
displayed on the liquid crystal layer 22, the portion for
extension of the common electrode and the segment
electrodes was restricted in order to avoid such undesired
display of an image. However, by employing the color
filter 31 shown in Figure 11, such overlapping portion X
of the electrodes can be concealed by an opaque portion
31e of the color filter 31 and therefore an advantage is
brought about that the common electrode and the segment
electrodes 33a to 33d can be extended as desired.
However, if such advantage is not desired, alternatively
the color filter may be implemented without forming such
opaque portion 31e.
Figure 14 is a view showing one example of a
display in the case where the present invention is applied
in a game apparatus.
The liquid crystal plate 30 is formed with a
variety of display segments such as numeral characters for
displaying the current time and a score point, a ball
character for displaying a ball symbol, a person character
for displaying a person symbol, and other decorating
characters for displaying various characters and figures.
A color filter 31 is disposed facing the liquid crystal
plate 30. The color filter 31 is formed with a filter
portion 41 so as to cover the numeral characters.
Likewise the color filter 31 is further formed with filter
30 portions 42, 43 and 44 and 45 to cover the ball character,
the person character, and the decorating characters,
respectively. Accordingly, in the case of the Figure 14
embodiment the numeral character, the ball character and
the person character and the decorating characters can be
displayed in different colors, respectively. Meanwhile,
an opaque portion is formed, as described above, in the
portion, as hatched, other than the filter portions 41 to
45 in the color filter 31.
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By thus implementing a game apparatus employing
a liquid crystal display capable of displaying game
patterns in multiple colors, color changes are added to
such game apparatus employing a liquid crystal display and
as a result the interest of a game player is greatly
increased.
Figure 15 i5 a view showing a preferred example
of the liquid crystal plate 130 and the color filter 131
for use in the Figure 5 embodiment. As in the case of the
10 Figure 11 embodiment, display segments 122a, 122b, 122c
and 122d of the character configurations heing displayed
are formed in the liquid crystal layer 122. The liquid
crystal layer 122 may be a liquid crystal layer of a
twisted nematic type having polarization filters 123 and
124 formed on both surfaces thereof. The polarization
axes of these polarization filters 123 and 124 are
selected to be in a predetermined relation, so that a
light beam incident upon portions other than tbe display
segments 122a to 122d being selectively driven for display
may not transmit therethrough. More specifically, the
liquid crystal layer 122 and the polarization filters 123
and 124 are structured such that a light beam is allowed
to transmit only the display segment portions being
selectively driven for display.
A color filter 131 is arranged to face the
liquid crystal plate 130. The color filter 131 comprises
a transparent film, e.g. a polyester film as in the case
of the Figure 11 embodiment. The transparent film is
formed with the filter portions 131a to 131d and the
opaque portion 131e, as hatched, through a screening
process. These filter portions 131a to 131d are formed at
the positions facing the respective display segments 122a
to 122d so as to cover the respective display segments.
These Eilter portions 131a to 131d are structured as
filters for allowing for transmission of light beams of
colors in which it is desired to display the display
segments 122a to 122d.
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Since the Figure 15 embodimen-t is structured
such that the filter portions 131a to :L31d are disposed to
cover at least the display segments 122a to 122d having
the character conEigurations being displayed, the display
segments 122a to 122d can be displayed in desired colors
as in the case of the Figure 11 embodiment.
Figure 16 is a view showing another preferred
example oE the liquid crystal plate 130 and the color
filter 131 for use in the Figure 5 embodiment. Contrary
to the Figure 15 embodiment, the Figure 16 embodiment is
adapted such that the filter portions 131a to 131d of the
color filter 131 are formed in the shape of characters
being displayed. The display segments 122a to 122d of the
liquid crystal layer 122 are formed to be large enough to
15 cover the filter portions 131a to 131d, respectively. The
remaining portions may be substantially the same as those
of the Figure 15 embodiment. With such structure, when a
given display segment of the liquid crystal plate 130 is
driven for display to be made transparen-t, a light beam is
allowed to transmit through only the color filter portion
facing the above-described display segment. Therefore, an
image of the conEiguration of the color filter portion,
i.e. the character configuration being displayed can be
displayed in color. Accordingly, the Figure 16 liquid
crystal display plate also performs substantially the same
effect as that of the Figure 15 liquid crystal display
plate.
Meanwhile, in the foregoing a liquid crystal
display as embodied in a game apparatus was mainly
described; however, it goes without saying that the
present invention can be applied also to other types of
electronic apparatuses such as a timepiece, a calculator
and the like.
Although embodiments of the present invention
have been described and illustrated in detail, it is
clearly understood that the same are given by way of
illustration and example only and are not to be taken by
way of limitation, the spirit ~nd scope of the present
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invention being limited only by the terms of the appended
claims.
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