JP2007268173A - Display device, manufacturing method thereof, and gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device, a method for manufacturing the display device, and a gaming machine capable of improving a rendering effect by liquid crystal display and visibility of a reel are provided.
A display device comprising a liquid crystal display panel having a back polarizer and a display cylinder disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel, the back polarizer overlapping the display cylinder. The display cylinder has a translucent structure in which a polarizer having a polarization axis substantially in the same direction as the polarization axis of the back polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. A display device having a region.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a display device, a method for manufacturing the same, and a gaming machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a display device suitable as a display device for a gaming machine, a manufacturing method thereof, and a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a pachinko slot machine.

In recent years, display devices of various shapes and forms have been developed with the development of display technology. For example, in pachinko machines, pachinko slot machines (so-called pachislot machines), etc., those with a display device at the center of the board have become widespread, and game conditions such as big hits and reach on the display screen And the game mode are displayed as images to the player. In a gaming machine equipped with such a display device, various effects can be performed by the display device in conjunction with the game, enhancing the player's interest and excitement, and improving the function as a gaming machine. become.

In general, as a display device for a gaming machine, a thin and light liquid crystal display device having an excellent image quality performance and a reel arranged behind the liquid crystal display device are often used. In addition to a liquid crystal display panel or the like, a liquid crystal display device that includes a backlight that is a light source device disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel is often used. As a backlight system, there are a direct-type backlight and a sidelight-type backlight, but a sidelight-type backlight that can be made thin is generally used for a display device for a gaming machine.

As a specific form of such a display device, (a) an embodiment in which an opening is provided in each component of the liquid crystal display device in the area where the reel is displayed, and (b) a liquid crystal display in the area where the reel is displayed. Examples include a mode in which an opening is provided in an appropriate component of a backlight usually provided in the apparatus.

According to these types of display devices, it is possible to achieve both the effect of liquid crystal display and the display of reels. However, in the form (a), since the liquid crystal display device has an opening in an area overlapping with the reel, liquid crystal display cannot be performed in the area where the reel is displayed. Therefore, there is room for improvement in that the production effect by the liquid crystal display can be restricted.

On the other hand, in the form (b), it is possible to perform liquid crystal display also in the area where the reel is displayed. However, the player has to look at the reel at least through the liquid crystal display panel, and there is room for further improvement in that the reel is displayed in a blurred and dark manner.

On the other hand, in a display provided with a pair of polarizing plates so as to sandwich a liquid crystal display cell, a technique for forming an opening having no polarizing function in at least one polarizing plate is disclosed (for example, Patent Documents). 1). According to this, since the opening is provided in front of the rotary display body (reel), the reel is displayed brightly. However, in this display, liquid crystal display cannot be performed in the opening arranged around the reel, and the effect of production has been reduced.

In addition, a display device (see, for example, Patent Document 2) in which a rotating drum (reel) can be visually observed through a high transmittance region is disclosed. According to this, the visibility of the reel is ensured. However, in the high transmittance region, the polarizing layer of the polarizing plate of the liquid crystal display panel, the color filter, and the like are cut out, so that complete liquid crystal display cannot be performed and the effect of production is reduced.

Thus, there has been a strong demand for a display device that can ensure the visibility of the reel and the effect of the liquid crystal display panel.

The gaming machine also includes an illumination effect by illumination means for irradiating the back of the reel band and a liquid crystal display device disposed on the front side of the reel drum, and the liquid crystal display device is linked to the illumination effect by the illumination means. A technique for performing a liquid crystal effect (see, for example, Patent Document 3) is disclosed. This technology was intended to improve the expressive power of production using illumination means. In the embodiment, the reel is visually recognized through the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide plate, and it is considered that the visibility of the reel cannot be sufficiently ensured.

Furthermore, in gaming machines, a technique for changing the transparency and / or shape of the symbol transmission area (area corresponding to the reel) based on the stop signal output means is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 4). However, this technique improves the interest of the game by changing the display content of the symbol display area in conjunction with the game, and is not a technique for ensuring the visibility of the reel.
JP 2004-105616 A JP 2004-329687 A JP-A-2005-73754 JP 2006-6599 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and provides a display device, a manufacturing method thereof, and a gaming machine capable of improving the rendering effect of a liquid crystal display and the visibility of a reel. It is the purpose.

The inventors of the present invention have made various investigations about a display device that can improve the effect of the liquid crystal display and the visibility of the reel, a method for manufacturing the display device, and a gaming machine. Attention was paid to the polarizer (back polarizer) and the form of the display cylinder included in the reel. The back polarizer has an opening region in an area overlapping with the display cylinder, and the display cylinder has substantially the same direction as the polarization axis of the back polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. It has been found that it is possible to improve the effect of liquid crystal display and the visibility of the reel by having a light-transmitting region in which a polarizer having a polarization axis is arranged. The present inventors have arrived at the present invention.

That is, the present invention is a display device comprising a liquid crystal display panel having a back polarizer and a display cylinder disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the back polarizer is a display cylinder. The transparent cylinder has an opening area in an overlapping area, and the display cylinder includes a polarizer having a polarization axis substantially in the same direction as the polarization axis of the back polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. The display device has a sex region.
The present invention is described in detail below.

The display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel having a back polarizer and a display cylinder disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel. Thus, the display device of the present invention is a display device that performs liquid crystal display by a liquid crystal display panel and display of a display cylinder through the liquid crystal display panel. The configuration of the display device of the present invention is not particularly limited with respect to other components as long as the liquid crystal display panel and the display cylinder are essential, but the liquid crystal display panel is usually used. In addition, a backlight and a light source are disposed between the display cylinders.

The liquid crystal display panel has a configuration similar to that of a general liquid crystal display panel, and is usually arranged on a pair of opposing substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and a front surface and a rear surface of each substrate. And a pair of polarizing plates (a front polarizing plate and a back polarizing plate). Each polarizing plate includes a polarizer (a front polarizer and a back polarizer). Further, the absorption axis directions of the front polarizing plate and the rear polarizing plate are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set according to the liquid crystal mode of the liquid crystal display panel.

The display format of the liquid crystal display panel, such as the liquid crystal mode and the liquid crystal driving method, is not particularly limited. As the liquid crystal mode, TN (Twist Nematic) mode, STN (Super Twist Nematic) mode, IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode, MVA (Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment) mode, CPA (Continent Intensive) mode, etc. . Examples of the liquid crystal driving method include a simple matrix driving method and an active matrix driving method, and the active matrix driving method is preferable from the viewpoint of obtaining various effects. That is, the liquid crystal display panel is preferably an active matrix type liquid crystal display panel.

The said back polarizer is a polarizer arrange | positioned at the back surface of a liquid crystal display panel. That is, the back polarizer is usually a polarizer included in the back polarizing plate. In this specification, the front means the display screen side of the display device, and the rear means the opposite side. The liquid crystal display panel usually has a polarizer (surface polarizer) also on the front surface.

In this specification, a polarizer is essentially composed of the minimum elements necessary to obtain a desired linearly polarized light from natural light and partially polarized light (hereinafter also referred to as “non-polarized light”). Shall. Therefore, for example, a film in which a support layer (protective film) is laminated on the both sides of a minimum element for the purpose of improving reliability, that is, a so-called normal polarizing plate is clearly distinguished. The specific use of terms will be described with specific examples. Currently, as a most common polarizer, a polyvinyl alcohol film (PVA film) is adsorbed with a dye solution containing an iodine complex or dye having dichroism, A polarizing film obtained by stretching in a certain direction can be mentioned. On the other hand, the most common polarizing plate includes a film having a three-layer structure obtained by adhering a transparent film such as a triacetyl cellulose film (TAC film) for protecting a polarizing film on both sides of such a polarizing film. It is done.

The display cylinder functions as a display medium and gives various information to the user of the display device of the present invention. The display cylinder is generally a substantially cylindrical body, and is arranged so that the outer peripheral surface of the display cylinder and the rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel face each other. In the display cylinder, various symbols are drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder. That is, the display cylinder has a pattern area in which various symbols are drawn and a blank area in which no symbols are drawn. Further, the display cylinder is a cylindrical body and is preferably rotated about the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical body, so that all of the symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface can be exposed in the display direction. , Can provide various displays.

The structure of the display cylinder is not particularly limited, and a form in which a sheet-like (film-like) object on which a pattern is drawn is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a sheet-like (film-like) object on which a pattern is drawn is used as a skeleton. The form affixed on the cylindrical frame which becomes, the form where the design was directly drawn on the cylindrical frame used as a skeleton, etc. are mentioned. Among these, a form in which a sheet-like (film-like) object on which a pattern is drawn is attached to a cylindrical frame as a skeleton is preferable, and according to this, a display cylinder can be easily manufactured. It can be suitably used as a reel for gaming machines.

The said back polarizer has an opening area | region in the area | region which overlaps with the cylinder for a display. Thereby, since it becomes possible to visually recognize the design of the display cylinder without using the back polarizer, the visibility of the reel can be improved. In addition, having an opening area in an area overlapping with the display cylinder means having an opening area in an area where the display cylinder exists when viewed from the front or the rear. Moreover, the opening area | region should just be an area | region which does not have a polarization characteristic, and may be a mere transparent resin layer which does not have a polarization characteristic.

The shape of the opening region is not particularly limited, and examples of the shape (planar shape) when viewed from the front or rear include a quadrangle, a trapezoid, a circle, and an ellipse. Among these, a quadrangle is preferable from the viewpoint of efficiently ensuring a region for visually recognizing the display cylinder and a region for performing liquid crystal display.

The location of the opening region is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a mode in which the aperture is isolated in the back polarizer and a mode in which the outer edge of the back polarizer is shared. From the viewpoint of improving the above, a form in which they are arranged in the back polarizer is preferable.

The size of the opening region is not particularly limited, and may be set as appropriate so that a desired pattern of the display cylinder can be visually recognized. In addition, when the present invention is used for a gaming machine such as a pachinko slot machine or a pachinko gaming machine, the opening area has a size that allows at least three or more symbols to be visually recognized from the viewpoint of appropriate gaming. Is preferred.

The display cylinder is provided with a polarizer (hereinafter, also referred to as “cylinder polarizer”) having a polarization axis substantially in the same direction as the polarization axis of the back polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. A transparent region. That is, the display cylinder has a part of a translucent region in which a polarizer (cylindrical polarizer) is arranged, and the polarizer (cylindrical polarizer) is viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. The polarization axis direction is substantially the same as the polarization axis direction of the back polarizer. As a result, the light from the light source arranged in the display cylinder can be transmitted to the outside of the display cylinder to irradiate the liquid crystal display panel from the rear, and liquid crystal display is also possible on the liquid crystal display panel overlapping with the polarizer Therefore, the effect of the liquid crystal display can be improved.

In addition, since the said cylindrical polarizer is arrange | positioned on a cylinder, ie, a curved surface, the polarization axis may be bent unlike a normal polarizer. Therefore, in this specification, the direction of the polarization axis of the cylindrical polarizer is as shown in FIG. 8 when the polarization axis of the cylindrical polarizer (broken line in FIG. 8) is curved. It is defined by the tangential direction of the polarization axis at any point above (arrow in FIG. 8).

In the present specification, the substantially same direction may be the same direction as long as the effects of the present invention can be achieved, and may not be strictly the same direction. Therefore, more specifically, the difference between the polarization axis direction of the back polarizer and the polarization axis direction of the cylindrical polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel is preferably 10 degrees or less, preferably 3 degrees. More preferably, it is more preferably 1 ° or less. In addition, when the difference between the polarization axis direction of the back polarizer and the polarization axis direction of the cylindrical polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel exceeds 10 degrees, the contrast ratio in the liquid crystal display is significantly reduced. When the display device of the invention is used for a gaming machine, there is a possibility that the game may be hindered.

The light-transmitting region only needs to be able to transmit light, and may be transparent or translucent. From the viewpoint of supplying uncolored light to the liquid crystal display panel, the translucent region is preferably achromatic. It does not specifically limit as the light transmittance of a translucent area | region. The material of the display cylinder having the translucent region is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a translucent resin.
A preferred embodiment of the display device of the present invention will be described in detail below.

The display device preferably includes a light-transmitting blank region in which a polarizer is disposed and a design region. Thereby, since a liquid crystal display is performed in the area | region which overlaps with the blank area | region where a design is not drawn, a design can be displayed clearly, utilizing the production effect by a liquid crystal display. Moreover, it is preferable that the symbol region has translucency, and thereby, the symbol can be displayed more variously and clearly.

The display device includes (1) a configuration in which polarized light transmitted through the polarizer of the display cylinder enters the liquid crystal display panel while maintaining a substantially constant polarization state, and (2) the polarizer of the display cylinder and the liquid crystal display It is preferable that the optical member that changes the polarization state is not disposed between the panel and the panel. As a result, the polarized light transmitted through the cylindrical polarizer and the polarized light transmitted through the back polarizer are incident on the liquid crystal display panel having substantially the same polarization state. It can be performed. The polarization state means a state where the vibration direction of the vibration vector of the light wave is regular. The optical member means a member that changes the optical characteristics of light. The optical member that changes the polarization state includes a polarizing plate, a light guide plate, a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, a lens sheet, a light control film, and the like. Is mentioned. However, in the form (2), a member that does not change the polarization state may be disposed between the polarizer of the display cylinder and the liquid crystal display panel. Examples of the member that does not change the polarization state include a transparent resin plate. In the form (2), it is more preferable that the display device has no optical member disposed between the polarizer of the display cylinder and the liquid crystal display panel. Thereby, liquid crystal display with further uniform image quality can be performed. Further, from the viewpoint of performing high-quality liquid crystal display, the cylindrical polarizer preferably has substantially the same extinction ratio as the back polarizer of the liquid crystal display panel. In the present specification, the term “substantially constant” is sufficient if it is determined to be in one state where the effects of the present invention can be achieved, and may not be strictly determined in one state.

The display device includes (3) an optical member that includes a point light source or a linear light source in the display cylinder, and diffuses light between the point light source or the linear light source and the polarizer of the display cylinder ( Hereinafter, a form having “light diffusing member”) and a form having a planar light source in the display cylinder are preferable. According to the mode (3), the light emitted from the point light source or the linear light source can be diffused and the substantially uniform planar light can be supplied to the liquid crystal display panel. Display quality can be improved. Further, according to the form (4), the planar light can be supplied to the liquid crystal display panel, so that the display quality of the liquid crystal display can be improved. It does not specifically limit as a point light source, A light emitting diode (LED), a light bulb, etc. are mentioned. It does not specifically limit as a linear light source, A cold cathode tube (CCFT) etc. are mentioned. The planar light source is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The planar light source may have a configuration in which point light sources and / or linear light sources are densely arranged so as to be visually recognized as being substantially planar.

As an arrangement form of the light diffusing member in the above form (3), (3a) the display cylinder is configured to include the light diffusing member in the blank region, and the cylindrical polarizer is arranged outside the light diffusing member. A configuration in which the light diffusing member is disposed between the point light source in the display cylinder or the linear light source and the display cylinder is preferable.

In the display device, it is preferable that a light source for irradiating the display cylinder (cylinder irradiation light source) is not disposed outside the display cylinder. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the non-polarized light emitted from the light source for cylindrical irradiation and reflected by the display cylindrical body from being supplied to the liquid crystal display panel, so that the display quality of the liquid crystal display can be improved.

The display cylinder is preferably provided with a polarizer having a substantially linear polarization axis. Thereby, since the polarization axis direction of the cylindrical polarizer does not change depending on the viewing angle direction, it is possible to effectively suppress a decrease in contrast ratio due to the viewing angle direction, and to improve the display quality of the liquid crystal display.

It is preferable that at least one of the design, symbol, character, number, and character is drawn on the design. From this, the creative effect of each drawing content can produce a more effective presentation as a display device. The drawing method is not particularly limited, and the pattern may be drawn directly on the cylindrical frame, or the pattern may be drawn on a sheet-like (film-like) object before being made into a cylindrical shape or pasted on the cylindrical frame. However, from the viewpoint of easy drawing, it is preferable to draw a pattern on a sheet-like object before making it into a cylindrical shape or before attaching it to a cylindrical frame.

It is preferable that the said display cylinder is plurality from a viewpoint which performs various displays. In particular, the display device preferably includes three display cylinders, whereby the display cylinder can be suitably used as a reel of a pachinko slot machine, a pachinko gaming machine, or the like.

The present invention is also a method for manufacturing the display device, wherein the manufacturing method includes bonding a polarizer having a perforated region corresponding to a design of a display cylinder and a translucent member on which the design is drawn. It is also a method for manufacturing a display device including a step of manufacturing a display cylinder. Thereby, the cylinder for a display provided with the polarizer in the blank area | region can be produced easily.

The present invention is also a gaming machine provided with the display device of the present invention. According to the display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the effect of the liquid crystal display and the visibility of the reel, so that it is possible to improve the fun, excitement, and operability of the game. Although it does not specifically limit as a gaming machine, A pachinko type slot machine, a spinning-rotor type gaming machine such as a parrot, a slot machine, and a pachinko gaming machine are preferable. The slot machine is a gaming machine that waits for the reels to automatically stop and advances the game, and is generally installed in a casino, a game center, or the like. On the other hand, a swivel-type gaming machine is a gaming machine in which a player stops a reel with a stop button and progresses the game, and a machine that inserts coins as a gaming fee is called a pachinko slot machine, also called a pachislot. Also, a game that uses pachinko balls as a game fee is called a parrot.

According to the display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the effect of liquid crystal display and the visibility of the reel.

Embodiments will be described below, and the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the front surface of the display device of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, a broken line indicates a reel. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device of the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal display device 300 and three cylindrical reels (display cylinders) 10L, 10C, and 10R disposed behind the liquid crystal display device 300. . Thus, the display device of this embodiment has a configuration suitable as a display device for gaming machines such as pachinko slot machines and pachinko gaming machines.

The liquid crystal display device 300 includes the liquid crystal display panel 100 and a backlight (not shown) disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel. In the liquid crystal display device 300, reel display areas 50L, 50C, and 50R are provided in areas overlapping with the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R. Thereby, the display device of the present embodiment displays the reels via the liquid crystal display device 300 in each of the reel display areas 50L, 50C, and 50R, and displays the liquid crystal display in the peripheral area of the area where the reels are displayed. Can do.

The liquid crystal display panel 100 is an active matrix liquid crystal display panel in a mode in which the deflection axis direction is not particularly limited, such as MVA, CPA, etc., and includes a pair of opposing glass substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the glass substrates, It has a pair of polarizing plates (front polarizing plate and back polarizing plate) arranged on the front surface and the rear surface of the glass substrate.

One substrate is partitioned by a gate wiring and a source wiring arranged in a matrix, a thin film transistor (TFT) which is a switching element arranged near the intersection of the gate wiring and the source wiring, and each gate wiring and the source wiring. And pixel electrodes arranged in the region.

On the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R, a plurality of symbols such as patterns, symbols, characters, and numbers are drawn in a row. The reels 10 </ b> L, 10 </ b> C, and 10 </ b> R have a coaxial rotation axis and are arranged in parallel at a substantially central portion of the liquid crystal display device 300. Further, a motor (not shown) is provided inside each of the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R, so that the rotation of each of the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R can be individually controlled.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the display device of the present embodiment taken along line XY in FIG. Since each of the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R and the liquid crystal display device in the area facing each of the reels 10L, 10C, and 10R have the same structure, the display device in the area in which the reel 10C is disposed will be described below. Only the configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 300 includes a liquid crystal display panel 100 disposed in the front, a backlight 200 disposed in the rear thereof, and a bezel 46 for holding the liquid crystal display panel 100 in the backlight. Have

The liquid crystal display panel 100 includes a glass substrate 30 sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, a front polarizing plate 31 disposed on the front surface of the glass substrate 30, and a back polarizing plate 32 disposed on the rear surface of the glass substrate 30. . A retardation plate (not shown) may be disposed between at least one of the glass substrate 30 and the front polarizing plate 31 and the back polarizing plate 32.

The front polarizing plate 31 and the back polarizing plate 32 are generally used polarizing plates and are configured to include a polarizer. From the glass substrate 30 side, an adhesive layer, a protective film, a polarizer (a front polarizer and a back polarizer). ) And a protective film are laminated. However, in the display device of the present embodiment, the back polarizing plate 32 has an opening region in a region overlapping with the reel 10C.

The backlight 200 is a so-called edge light type backlight. That is, the optical sheet 40, the light guide plate 41, and the reflection sheet 42 are stacked from the liquid crystal display panel 100 side, the light source 44 is disposed above and below the light guide plate 41, and the reflection plate 43 is connected to the light guide plate 41. The reflection plate 43 itself is disposed so as to surround the light source 44. Further, these components are held by a P chassis 47 and a backlight angle 48 which are holding members. The P chassis 47 is formed using a resin, and the backlight angle 48 is formed using aluminum.

The optical sheet 40 is a member that optimizes optical characteristics such as directivity by condensing, diffusing, etc., planar light emitted from the light guide plate 41. As the optical sheet 40, a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, a lens sheet, or the like may be used in appropriate combination.

The light guide plate 41 is an optical member that reflects light incident from the light source 44 on the rear surface of the light guide plate 41 and emits it in a planar shape toward the display screen. As the material of the light guide plate 41, acrylic resin, polycarbonate, or the like may be used.

The reflection sheet 42 is for preventing light that has traveled through the light guide plate from leaking from the rear of the light guide plate. As a material of the reflection sheet 42, a resin having a high reflectance, a metal thin film, or the like may be used.

As the light source 44, a cold cathode tube (CCFT) which is a linear light source is arranged. Further, the lead wire 45 of each light source 44 is drawn out to the gap between the reflection plate 43 and the backlight angle 48. As the light source 44, a point light source arranged in a plurality of rows may be used. A light emitting diode (LED) is suitable as the point light source.

The reflection plate 43 is for reflecting the light emitted from the light source 44 to the light guide plate 41 side. As a material of the reflection plate 43, aluminum may be used. Further, a resin such as PET having high reflectivity may be attached to the surface facing the aluminum light source.

As described above, the backlight 200 has a general configuration, but in the display device according to the present embodiment, the optical sheet 40, the light guide plate 41, the reflection sheet 42, and the backlight angle 48 are regions that overlap with the reel 10C. Each have an opening region of substantially the same shape. That is, in the display device of the present embodiment, the back polarizing plate 32, the optical sheet 40, the light guide plate 41, the reflection sheet 42, and the backlight angle 48 each have an opening area having substantially the same shape in an area overlapping with the reel 10C. The area provided with the opening corresponds to the above-described reel display area 50C.

The reel 10 </ b> C includes a substantially cylindrical frame (not shown) serving as a skeleton and a reel sheet 11 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the frame, and has a pattern area P and a blank area B.

The frame is configured by an annular portion (not shown) to which the reel sheet is attached and a power transmission portion (not shown) that transmits the power of the motor disposed at the center of the reel 10C. The frame is formed of a substantially colorless and transparent resin. However, in the case where the frame is also arranged at a position where it is not visually recognized from the display screen side of the liquid crystal display device 300, the portion located in the invisible area does not necessarily need to be colorless and transparent.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reel sheet 11 includes a resin film 16 having a pattern 17 printed on the pattern area P, and a polarizing plate (reel polarizing plate) disposed in a blank area B on the outer peripheral surface of the resin film 16. 15. The reel polarizing plate 15 includes a polarizer (cylindrical polarizer) and has a structure in which an adhesive layer, a protective film, a polarizer, and a protective film are laminated from the resin film 16 side. Further, when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel 100, the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate 15 and the polarization axis direction of the above-described back polarizing plate 32 are arranged to be substantially the same. In addition, as a manufacturing method of the reel sheet | seat 11, the area | region corresponding to a design as shown to Fig.4 (a) on the resin film 16 which is a translucent member printed with the design 17 as shown in FIG.4 (b). It can be produced by bonding together the reel polarizing plate 15 in which (the pattern region P) is perforated (perforated).

As shown in FIG. 9, the reel polarizing plate 15 has a substantially linear polarization axis (broken line in FIG. 9). That is, the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate 15 (arrow in FIG. 9) is set to a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the reel 10C. As a result, the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate 15 is substantially constant no matter which direction the reel 10C is viewed, and the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate 15 and the polarization axis direction of the back polarizing plate 32 depend on the viewing angle direction. In other words, since the directions can always be substantially the same, a decrease in the contrast ratio of the liquid crystal display in the reel display area can be effectively suppressed.

In this embodiment, since the reel polarizing plate 15 has a substantially linear polarization axis as shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, the liquid crystal display panel 100 also has a horizontal polarization axis direction when the display screen is viewed from the front. It has the back polarizing plate 32 used as a direction. However, since the liquid crystal display panel 100 of the present embodiment is an MVA mode or the like with no particular restriction on the polarization axis direction, the polarization axis direction of the reel polarization plate 15 and the polarization axis direction of the back polarization plate can be easily made substantially in the same direction. Can be designed to

The resin film 16 is formed of translucent white PET, polycarbonate, or the like, and has a function of diffusing and uniformizing light. The symbol area P has translucency, and various symbols necessary for the game are drawn. Thereby, since light permeate | transmits a symbol, a symbol can be displayed more clearly.

In the display device of the present embodiment, in addition to the above-described backlight 200 as a light supply source, an in-reel light source 20 is disposed inside the reel 10 </ b> C and is held by a light source holder 21.

As the light source 20 in the reel, an LED which is a point light source is used, and in a state where the reel is stopped, as shown in FIG. 2, three LEDs are arranged corresponding to the symbols displayed in the reel display area 50C. Has been. Thereby, a design can be irradiated from back.

Here, the display mechanism of the display device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a solid line arrow indicates non-polarized light, and a broken line arrow indicates polarized light.

In the display device of this embodiment, the non-polarized light LA emitted from the light source 44 of the backlight 200 is reflected by the reflective sheet 42 and passes through the back polarizing plate 32 to become polarized light La. Then, the polarized light La is appropriately rotated by the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the glass substrates 30 and partially or entirely absorbed when passing through the front polarizing plate 31, so that liquid crystal display is possible. That is, the display device according to the present embodiment can perform normal liquid crystal display in an area (an area other than the reel display area) where a light guide plate or the like is disposed.

Further, the non-polarized light LB emitted from the in-reel light source 20 toward the blank region B becomes polarized light Lb by transmitting through the blank region B where the polarizing plate is disposed. The polarized light Lb enters the liquid crystal display panel 100 while maintaining the polarization state. Furthermore, since the polarized light Lb is appropriately rotated by the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the glass substrates 30 and partially or completely absorbed when passing through the front polarizing plate 31, a liquid crystal display is possible. That is, the display device of the present embodiment can perform normal liquid crystal display even in a region (region other than the symbol region) corresponding to the blank region in the region where the light guide plate or the like is not disposed (reel display region).

On the other hand, the non-polarized LC emitted from the in-reel light source 20 toward the symbol region P remains the non-polarized LC even if it passes through the symbol region P where no polarizing plate is disposed. Even if the non-polarized LC is appropriately rotated by the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the glass substrates 30, the light transmitted through the front polarizing plate 31 is substantially constant because of the non-polarized light, and the liquid crystal display is performed. Never happen. That is, the display device according to the present embodiment can clearly display a symbol in a region corresponding to the symbol region in a region (reel display region) where a light guide plate or the like is not disposed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the display device according to the present embodiment can perform liquid crystal display not only in the areas other than the reel display areas 50L, 50C and 50R but also in the blank areas in the reel display areas 50L, 50C and 50R. Furthermore, the symbols can always be clearly displayed regardless of the liquid crystal display.

Note that the display device of the present embodiment is configured such that the reel irradiation light source (cylinder irradiation light source) 23 for clearly displaying the normal reel is not disposed. As a result, the non-polarized LD emitted from the light source for reel irradiation 23 is reflected by the reel, passes through the liquid crystal display panel 100 while being unpolarized, and a disadvantage such as a decrease in the contrast ratio of the liquid crystal display occurs. Is suppressed. Thereby, the cost of the display device can be reduced and the space can be saved.

In the display device of the present embodiment, the polarized light Lb transmitted through the blank region B is used for liquid crystal display, and is preferably planar light from the viewpoint of reducing luminance unevenness of the liquid crystal display. However, in the display device of the present embodiment, since the resin film constituting the reel sheet has a function of diffusing and uniforming light, the polarized light Lb transmitted through the blank region B can be made planar light. it can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the display device according to the present embodiment may have a configuration in which an optical sheet 40 having a function of diffusing and uniformizing light in front of the in-reel light source 20 is disposed. Also in this embodiment, planar non-polarized light can be supplied to the blank region, so that luminance unevenness in the liquid crystal display can be reduced.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the display device of the present embodiment may have a form in which a planar light source 22 is disposed in a reel. As a result, originally non-polarized light having a planar shape can be supplied to the blank area, so that luminance unevenness in the liquid crystal display can be reduced.

When the display device of the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the resin film may or may not have a function of diffusing light. That is, the resin film may be colorless and transparent. Moreover, when making a resin film colorless and transparent, a polarizing plate may be arrange | positioned at the outer peripheral surface side of the resin film, and may be arrange | positioned at the inner peripheral surface side.

(Embodiment 2)
Below, the display apparatus of Embodiment 2 is demonstrated. Since the display device of the second embodiment is different from the display device of the first embodiment only in the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate, the description of the contents overlapping in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the reel polarizing plate 15 has a cylindrical polarization axis (broken line in FIG. 10A) as shown in FIG. That is, the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate 15 at an arbitrary point on the reel 10C (arrow in FIG. 10A) is set along the circumferential direction of the reel 10C.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the reel is viewed in an oblique direction, that is, the display device of the present embodiment is viewed from the oblique direction, the polarization axis of the reel polarizing plate is bent as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10B, the polarization axis of the reel polarizing plate 15 (broken line in FIG. 10B) and the polarization axis of the back polarizing plate 32 (see FIG. 10B), particularly near the upper and lower ends of the reel 10C. It is conceivable that the direction with respect to the dot-and-dash line in FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the results of examining how much the deviation between the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate and the polarization axis direction of the back polarizing plate in the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the reel affects the liquid crystal display are as follows. Show.

Here, the calculation was performed using the size of each component of the display device for gaming machines that is currently generally used in the market. That is, as shown in FIG. 10C, the height of the opening area of the rear polarizing plate 32 is 120 mm, the height of one pattern (not shown) of the reel 10C is 35 mm, and the shortest distance between the reel and the rear polarizing plate. The distance was 15 mm. If there are 21 symbols, the radius of the reel 10C is r = 35 mm × 21 / π≈117 mm.

Next, a horizontal line 1 is drawn from the uppermost part (lowermost part) of the opening area of the back polarizing plate 32 in the direction of the reel 10C, and a tangent m is drawn on the reel 10C at the intersection α between the horizontal line and the reel 10C. The angle θ1 between l and tangent m is calculated. θ1 is a straight line n drawn from the center O of the reel 10C to the intersection point α, and a perpendicular q drawn from the intersection point α to a line p connecting the center of the opening area of the back polarizing plate 32 and the center O of the reel. Since it becomes equal to the angle θ2 between, θ1 = θ2 = cos ⁻¹ (60/117) = 59.1 °.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, assuming that the reel 10C is viewed from an oblique direction of 30 °, the reel in the uppermost part (lowermost part) of the opening area (reel display area) of the back polarizing plate The deviation between the polarizing axis direction of the polarizing plate and the polarizing axis direction of the back polarizing plate is (90 ° -59.1 °) × (30 ° / 90 °) = 10.3 °, and a slight reduction in contrast ratio is considered. It is done.

However, when the display device of the present embodiment is used for a gaming machine, the player basically faces the front of the display device substantially, so the player views the display device of the present embodiment from an extremely oblique direction. If the deviation between the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate and the polarization axis direction of the back polarizing plate is about 10 ° even when viewed from an oblique 30 ° direction, as described above, the game There seems to be no problem. Therefore, like the display device of the first embodiment, the display device of the present embodiment can be sufficiently used as a display device that is excellent in reel visibility and capable of producing effects by liquid crystal display.

(Embodiment 3)
Below, the display apparatus of Embodiment 3 is demonstrated. Since the display device of the third embodiment is different from the display device of the first embodiment only in the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate, the description overlapping with those in the first and third embodiments is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the reel polarizing plate 15 has a polarization axis (broken line in FIG. 11A) arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the circumferential direction of the reel 10C, as shown in FIG. 11A. . That is, the polarization axis direction (arrow in FIG. 11A) on the cylinder axis Z of the reel 10C when the outer periphery of the reel 10C is viewed from the front is set to be inclined by 45 ° from the cylinder axis Z of the reel 10C. Yes. Therefore, the polarization axis direction of the back polarizing plate 32 of the liquid crystal display panel 100 of the present embodiment also needs to be arranged in an oblique direction. However, currently produced TN mode liquid crystal display panels have a display screen viewed from the front. From the viewpoint of improving the viewing angle characteristics in the vertical and horizontal directions, the polarization axis direction of the polarizing plate is set in an oblique direction. Therefore, as the liquid crystal display panel 100 of the present embodiment, a TN mode liquid crystal display panel that is generally widely used as a display device for gaming machines can be suitably used.

However, in this embodiment, even if the reel 10C is viewed from the front, the reel 10C has a cylindrical shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B, as the reel 10C moves up and down from the cylindrical axis Z of the reel 10C, The polarization axis direction of the polarizing plate 15 is greatly inclined. In this case, particularly near the upper and lower end portions of the reel 10, the polarization axis of the reel polarizing plate 15c (broken line in FIG. 11B) and the polarization axis of the back polarizing plate 32 (one point in FIG. 11B). It is conceivable that the direction with respect to the chain line) shifts and affects the liquid crystal display.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the results of examining how much the deviation between the polarization axis direction of the reel polarizing plate and the polarization axis direction of the back polarizing plate in the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the reel affects the liquid crystal display are as follows. Show.

Here, using the model used in the discussion of the second embodiment, that is, a display device having the same configuration and size as shown in FIG. 10C, the intersection α (when the outer peripheral surface of the reel 10C is viewed from the front. The deviation in the direction of the polarization axis in the uppermost part of the opening area of the back polarizer was calculated. As shown in FIG. 11 (c), when the two orthogonal sides (orthogonal sides) of the right isosceles triangle having the polarization axis direction as the hypotenuse are a, the height b when the side a is tilted by 59.1 ° is A × sin (59.1 °) = 0.858a. Therefore, the polarization axis direction θ3 at the intersection α where the reel polarizing plate is tilted 59.1 ° is tan ⁻¹ (b / a) = tan ⁻¹ (0.858a / a) = 40.6 °.

Thus, in the uppermost part and the lowermost part of the opening area (reel display area) of the back polarizing plate, the polarization direction shift of about 45 ° -40.6 ° = 4.4 ° occurs, and the contrast is slightly lowered. Conceivable. However, as described above, if the difference between the polarization axis direction of the reel polarization plate and the polarization axis direction of the back polarization plate is about 10 degrees, the liquid crystal display can be visually recognized. Since the deviation of the polarization direction is resolved as the area approaches the center of the region, the display device of the present embodiment adopts a highly versatile TN mode liquid crystal display panel and is similar to the display device of the first embodiment. Therefore, it can be sufficiently used as a display device that is excellent in reel visibility and capable of producing an effect by liquid crystal display.

As described above, the display device of this embodiment can be suitably used as a display device for gaming machines such as pachinko slot machines, pachinko gaming machines, slot machines, and parrots. In the case of producing a gaming machine using the display device of this embodiment, the conventional general components may be used other than the display device of this embodiment, and the display device of this embodiment A game machine using can be easily manufactured.

The display device of the present embodiment is not particularly limited to a display device for a gaming machine, and can be applied to various information display devices such as a clock and an advertising medium.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus of Embodiment 1 in the XY line in FIG. In FIG. 1, a solid line arrow indicates non-polarized light, and a broken line arrow indicates polarized light. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a front surface of the display device of Embodiment 1. FIG. In FIG. 2, a broken line indicates a reel. It is an expansion schematic diagram of the area | region enclosed with the broken line in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing method of a reel sheet | seat, (a) is an upper surface schematic diagram which shows a reel polarizing plate, (b) is an upper surface schematic diagram which shows a resin film. It is a front schematic diagram which shows the display apparatus of Embodiment 1 in the state which performed the liquid crystal display. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another form of the display device of Embodiment 1. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing still another form of the display device of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective schematic diagram of the display cylinder for demonstrating the polarization axis direction of a cylindrical polarizer. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a reel for explaining a polarization axis direction of a reel polarizing plate in the display device of Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) is a perspective schematic diagram of the reel for demonstrating the polarization-axis direction of the reel polarizing plate in the display apparatus of Embodiment 2, (b) is the polarization axis of the reel polarizing plate in the display apparatus of Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a perspective schematic diagram of the display apparatus for demonstrating the relationship between the direction and the polarization axis direction of a back polarizing plate, (c) is Embodiment 2 for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning relationship and size of a back polarizing plate and a reel. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device. (A) is a perspective schematic diagram of the reel for demonstrating the polarization-axis direction of the reel polarizing plate in the display apparatus of Embodiment 3, (b) is the polarization axis of the reel polarizing plate in the display apparatus of Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a front schematic diagram of the display apparatus for demonstrating the relationship between the direction and the polarizing axis direction of a back polarizing plate, (c) is the polarizing axis of the reel polarizing plate in the center part and uppermost part of the opening area | region of a back polarizing plate. It is a schematic diagram which shows a direction.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10L, 10C, 10R: Reel (display cylinder)
11: Reel sheet 15: Reel polarizing plate 16: Resin film 17: Pattern 20: Light source in reel 21: Light source holder 22: Planar light source 23: Light source for reel irradiation 30: Glass substrate 31: Front polarizing plate 32: Back polarization Plate 40: Optical sheet 41: Light guide plate 42: Reflective sheet 43: Reflector plate 44: Light source 45: Lead wire 46: Bezel 47: P chassis 48: Backlight angles 50L, 50C, 50R: Reel display area 100: Liquid crystal display panel 200: Backlight 300: Liquid crystal display device P: Pattern area B: Blank areas LA, LB, LC, LD: Non-polarized light La, Lb: Polarized light

Claims (10)

A display device comprising a liquid crystal display panel having a back polarizer, and a display cylinder disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel,
The back polarizer has an opening region in a region overlapping with the display cylinder,
The display cylinder has a light-transmitting region in which a polarizer having a polarization axis substantially in the same direction as the polarization axis of the back polarizer when viewed from the front of the liquid crystal display panel. Display device. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a translucent blank area in which a polarizer is disposed, and a design area. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein polarized light transmitted through the polarizer of the display cylinder is incident on the liquid crystal display panel while maintaining a substantially constant polarization state. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an optical member that changes a polarization state is not disposed between the polarizer of the display cylinder and the liquid crystal display panel. The display device includes a point light source or a linear light source in the display cylinder, and an optical member that diffuses light between the point light source or the linear light source and the polarizer of the display cylinder. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a display device. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a planar light source in a display cylinder. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a light source that irradiates the display cylinder is not disposed outside the display cylinder. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a polarizer having a substantially linear polarization axis is disposed on the display cylinder. A method for manufacturing a display device according to claim 1,
The manufacturing method includes a step of manufacturing a display cylinder by bonding a polarizer having a perforated region corresponding to a design of a display cylinder and a translucent member on which the design is drawn. A method for manufacturing a display device. A gaming machine comprising the display device according to claim 1.

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