JP2000242247A - Image display device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable independent display of images and to configure a multi-screen display device by connecting a plurality of units to each other, so that the connection and separation can be easily performed. In an image display device that can be combined with a plurality of image display devices to form a multi-screen display device, receiving units 2001a to 2001c receive video signals. Connection part 200
2 couples with another image display device to constitute a multi-screen display device. The connection determination unit 2003
In 2, it is determined whether or not another image display device is being connected, and the result is transmitted to the display control unit 2005. When the display control unit 2005 determines that another image display device is connected to the connection unit 2002, the display control unit 2005 controls the display panel 2008 to enlarge a portion occupied by the image display device in the multi-screen display device. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display method for displaying an image in accordance with a video signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, to obtain a large-screen image,
There are displays such as a projection type projection device and a plasma display. However, in these display devices, there is a problem that the larger the screen, the higher the cost of the device, the lower the image quality, and the difficulty in manufacturing.

On the other hand, a method for displaying a large-screen image by combining a large number of image display devices has been proposed.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 32009. According to this method, one image source is enlarged by using an enlargement device, and an image is divided and displayed on a plurality of image display devices to realize a large-screen display (hereinafter, such a display device is referred to as a display device). Multi-screen display device). Here, the enlargement device has, for example, a frame memory of an amount corresponding to a plurality of image display devices, and obtains an image of an arbitrary enlargement ratio by controlling reading of data written in the frame memory.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a general multi-screen display device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a video signal generator composed of a VTR, a video disk, or the like. Further, the present system includes a personal computer or the like, and includes a system controller (not shown) for controlling the video signal generator 1 and a video enlarging device described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image enlargement device for producing an enlarged image signal at an arbitrary enlargement ratio, a frame memory 3a corresponding to a plurality of image display devices, a selector 3b for selecting image signals from a plurality of image signal generators 1, A program memory (not shown) for storing an automatic operation program sent from the system controller; and an enlargement control means 3d which is controlled according to this program and obtains an arbitrary enlargement ratio by controlling reading of the frame memory 3a. .

[0005] Reference numeral 4 denotes a video switching means for selecting an enlarged video signal from the video enlarging device 3 or an equal size video signal from the video signal generator 1, and 5 denotes a large screen display device comprising a plurality of image display devices. (In the figure, 4 × 4 = 16 cases are shown.)

In the following, for convenience of explanation, each of the image display devices constituting 5 is simply called a display panel, and the whole 5 is called a display panel group.

Next, the operation of the above device will be described. First, an automatic operation program is previously downloaded from the system controller to the enlargement control unit 3d, and the enlargement control unit 3d stores the program in the program memory. Then, the enlargement device operates according to the execution command from the system controller.

When the above-mentioned program is executed, the enlargement control means 3d controls the writing and reading of the frame memory 3a, enlarges the video signal from the video signal generator 1 at a predetermined magnification rate, and Supplied to

The video switching means 4 selects one of the same-size video signal from the video signal generator 1 or one of the video signals from the video enlarging device 3 and supplies it to the drive circuit 6 to supply it to the display panel group 5. Switches the video to be displayed.

When the same-size video signal is selected, the same-size video signal is supplied to each display panel and the same image is displayed.

On the other hand, when a video signal from the video enlarging device 3 is selected, a video signal having a predetermined enlargement ratio and enlarged by the video enlarging device 3 is displayed on the display panel group 5.

That is, assuming that the enlargement ratio of the video signal enlargement device 3 is 4 times in both the vertical and horizontal directions of the image, in a 4 × 4 image display device as shown in FIG.
The image is enlarged and displayed on the whole.

[0013] Such a multi-screen display device can display a large amount of information, or can be connected to various information devices and input sources to display a powerful and clear image. Excellent performance and effects are also expected. In addition, the manufacturing method is also a structure in which a display panel group is configured using a plurality of image display panels, so that manufacturing is easier than manufacturing a large screen panel using a flat panel display such as a single plasma display.
There were various effects such as reduction of manufacturing cost.

[0014]

The present inventors have intensively studied a multi-screen display device including a plurality of display panels as described above. However, as the number of cases where the user uses the multi-screen display device at home, for example, has increased, a completely new problem has arisen.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams for explaining the problem of the present invention. As described above, the multi-screen display device is an image display device having a large number of display panels, and has provided a powerful and clear image display by displaying a large-screen image. Such an example is shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, in order to effectively use a large number of display panels, the display panel group is brought to different places and different images are displayed on each display panel. As a result, there was a demand to enjoy images.

However, the multi-screen display device described in the prior art cannot cope with the use of separating the display panel. That is, even if the display panels can be separated, since the individual display panels have no receiving means for receiving the video signal, the signal is switched by the switching means 4.
Such as the problem that the wiring path of the wiring for supplying the video signal becomes extremely long, and that it is difficult to combine and separate a plurality of image display devices. Had a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to independently display images and combine a plurality of them to form a multi-screen display device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device and a method which can be easily performed.

[0019]

An image display apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following arrangement. That is, an image display device capable of forming a multi-screen display device by being combined with a plurality of image display devices, wherein a receiving means for receiving a video signal is combined with another image display device to form a multi-screen display device. Connecting means, a determining means for determining whether or not another image display device is being connected in the connecting means, and a case in which the determining means determines that another image display device is connected in the connecting means. Display means for enlarging and displaying a portion occupied by the multi-screen display device including the image display device.

[0020]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] A specific example of an image display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a multi-screen display device formed by connecting a plurality of the image display devices will be described below. In addition,
Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the image display device is combined with two in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction. However, the number of connected image display devices is not particularly limited, and an arbitrary number of image display devices may be connected. Can be connected to form a multi-screen display device.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of the image display device according to the first embodiment. 2016a, 2016b, 2016
Each of c and 2016d is an image display device according to the present embodiment, which can display images independently as one image display device, and can perform multi-screen display by connecting to each other as shown in FIG. An apparatus can be formed. As will be described in more detail later, the individual image display devices operate as a multi-screen display device by being connected to each other via a connection unit 2002.

In FIG. 1, 2016a to 2016d are shown as flat image display devices, but these may be image display devices such as CRTs. However, when the present invention is applied to a flat-panel image display device, the flat-panel display device has advantages such as a lighter weight per inch of a display area than a CRT and a thin type that is easily carried. Greater effect.

Further, as the flat type image display device applicable to this embodiment, a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display,
Alternatively, a display using a cold cathode device (JP-A-2-257551 by the present applicant) may be mentioned, but there is no particular limitation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows one of the flat panel display devices (2016) shown in FIG.
a, 2016b, 2016c, and 2016d; hereinafter, when there is no need to specify any of these, it is described as an image display device 2016).

In FIG. 2, 2001a, 2001b,
2001c is a receiving unit, and NTS is each.
It is a circuit for receiving or interfacing video signals from a C, VTR, video disc, or the like. Also 2002
Is a connection unit connected when a plurality of image display devices are connected and used. Reference numeral 2003 denotes a determination unit that determines whether another image display device is connected to the connection unit. Reference numeral 2004 denotes a decoder, and the receiving unit 2001
(a) to (c) generate RGB component signals from the video signals received. Reference numeral 2005 denotes a display control unit which includes a circuit for enlarging an image as necessary, and supplies a digitally sampled video signal to the drive circuit 2007.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display control unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the display control unit 2005
D converters 2010a to 2010c, controller 2
011, enlargement control unit 2012, display area storage unit 201
3, multiplexer 2014, frame memory 2015
And so on.

In the present embodiment, as described above, an example in which two image display devices are combined in two in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction will be described (see FIG. 1). Therefore, in the display area storage unit 2013, the number of vertical connections = 2, the number of horizontal connections =
2. The value of the address to which it is connected is written. Here, the addresses to be connected are in the order of (vertical address, horizontal address), the upper left image display device = (1, 1) the upper right image display device = (2, 1) the lower left image display device = (1, 2) The lower right image display device = (2, 2) is assigned a number, and the number corresponding to its own connection position is stored in the display area storage unit 2013. Note that the display area storage unit 2013 may be configured using a dip switch or the like. The signal Sd from the controller 2011 is used in the second embodiment (the details thereof will be described in the second embodiment), and may be omitted in the first embodiment.

Referring back to FIG. 2, reference numeral 2007 denotes a drive circuit.
A circuit for supplying a drive signal to the display panel 2008.
Reference numeral 2008 denotes a display panel, which displays an image corresponding to a received video signal driven and displayed by the drive circuit 2007. In this embodiment, the display panel 20
08 type is not specified. Further, the drive circuit 2007 has a different drive system depending on the system and type of the display panel, and thus will not be described in detail here.

In the image display apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration, when a video signal is received by any of the receiving units 2001a to 2001c, the input source is selected by the decoder 2004 and the selected input source is selected. An analog RGB signal is generated from a video signal of an input source, and the display control unit 200
5 is output.

Next, the operation of the display control unit 2005 will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating sampling pulses of the AD conversion process in the display control unit at the time of equal magnification display. The display control unit 2005 converts analog RGB signals into AD converters 2010a to 2010c as shown in FIG.
To obtain a digital RGB signal. When the image display device is used alone without being connected to another image display device, a signal to the effect that the image display device is not connected is sent to the controller 2011, and the enlargement control unit 2012 performs the same-size display. To instruct. As a result, the AD converter 2
Timings at which 010a to 2010c sample the analog RGB signals are the timings shown in FIG. As a result, an image of the same size as the original video signal is displayed on the image display device (1H is one horizontal scanning period, and 1V is one vertical scanning period).

Next, a case where two image display devices are combined in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction to form a multi-screen display device will be described. In this case, first, the connection unit 2002 shown in FIGS. 2 and 1 connects to another image display device. Note that the connection unit 2002 may be a kind of a limit switch, or may be an electrical connection means such as a connector connecting the image display devices. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a connector is arranged as a connection unit 2002 connecting the image display devices, and power is supplied from this connector to another image display device.

A power supply switching unit 2009 shown in FIG. 2 has a changeover switch operated by a user, and has a connection unit 20.
The power supply is selected from the power supplied from the power supply 02 and the power supplied from the plug side, and the power is supplied to the inside of the device.
When the power supply on the plug side is selected in the power supply switching unit 2009, the power is supplied to the connection unit 2002, and the power can be supplied to another image forming apparatus connected thereto.

Thus, when connecting to a plurality of image display devices, it is not necessary to use a power cord for each image display device, and by plugging in a power plug of any one of the image display devices, There is an effect that power is supplied to all the image display devices and images can be displayed.

In FIG. 1, the connectors are illustrated as being fixed to the image display device. However, in order to facilitate connection of the image display devices to each other, each image display device is drawn out to the connector via a cable. It does not matter.

Also, in FIG. 2, the judgment unit 2003
When it is detected that the power supply voltage is supplied through the connection unit 2002 and the current is flowing, it is determined that another image display device is connected, and the other image display device is connected to the display control unit 2005. Notify that it is inside.

When the display control unit 2005 is notified that another image display device is being connected, the controller 2011 instructs the enlargement control unit 2012 to perform enlargement display. Then, sampling pulses having timings as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are generated by the enlargement control unit 2012 and supplied to the AD converters 2010a to 2010c. The sampling pulse shown in FIG. 5 has twice the frequency of the sampling pulse shown in FIG. 4, thereby expanding the horizontal video signal twice. In FIG. 5, the first row is an RGB component signal, and the second row is a sampling pulse of an image display device arranged on the left side (hereinafter, a sampling pulse corresponding to an upper left screen of a multi-screen display device is a sampling pulse A, The sampling pulse corresponding to the lower left screen is referred to as a sampling pulse C. The third row is the sampling pulse of the image display device arranged on the right side (hereinafter, the sampling pulse corresponding to the upper right screen of the multi-screen display device is referred to as the sampling pulse). B, a sampling pulse corresponding to the lower right screen is referred to as a sampling pulse D).

It is needless to say that when the number of connections in the horizontal direction is 3, the sampling clock should be tripled. Although not shown here, to double the frequency of the sampling pulse, for example,
When the voltage is generated using the Voltage Control Oscillator, the input voltage may be supplied from the controller 2011 so that the frequency of the output pulse is doubled. Further, when a sampling pulse is generated by dividing the reference clock by another method, it can be easily realized by doubling the dividing ratio.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of one field period of sampling pulses A to D (one frame period in the case of the non-interlace system). Drive circuit 2007
Since it is necessary to display an image in the vertical direction by a factor of two, the sampling pulses A to
Each of D allows the digital signal to be obtained either in the first half or the second half of one field period (in the case of the non-interlace system, the first half or the second half of one frame period). Then, the same video signal is displayed every two lines by the data array converter 2014. The vertical video signal is read at double speed, and the same video signal is displayed every two lines.

By operating as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, in the image display device arranged on the left side when configuring the multi-screen display device, the first half of the 1H component signal in the 1 / 2H period is formed. In the image display device where the signal is sampled at a normal double speed and arranged on the right side,
The signal in the 2H period is sampled at a normal double speed. At this time, the enlargement control unit 2012 sets the display area storage unit 20
Based on the address information stored in the memory 13, the position of the image display device arranged on the multi-screen display device is recognized, and any of the sampling pulses A to D in FIG. 6 is supplied to the AD converters 2010a to 2010c. Is determined, and the sampling of the video signal is performed so as to be suitable for the position where the apparatus is arranged. The digital video signal sampled as described above is rearranged in accordance with the pixel array by the data array conversion circuit 2014, and then stored in the frame memory and output to the drive circuit 2007.

In the above embodiment, the same video signal is displayed for two lines in the vertical direction. However, an interpolated video signal is generated from two vertically adjacent video signals to expand the vertical direction. You may do it.

When an image display device was manufactured with the above configuration, when connecting and using a plurality of image display devices,
The multi-display mode is automatically switched to the multi-screen display mode, and there is an excellent effect that an image display which is completely the same as the conventional multi-screen display device can be performed.

Furthermore, the problem that the wiring route becomes very long, which is a problem when used alone, is eliminated. By connecting a video source to each image display device, it can be used as a single image display device. There are excellent effects such as the ability to do.

Another advantage is that since a large-screen image display device is constructed by combining a plurality of image display devices, even if a failure occurs, only the failed image display device is used. Can be recovered by simply repairing or replacing the device, and has the effect of having better maintainability than other large screen display devices.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a specific example of an image display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a multi-screen display device formed by connecting a plurality of them will be described below. In the second embodiment, when a multi-screen display device is configured by connecting a plurality of image display devices, automatic connection of a video signal and a power supply is realized by setting a master-slave relationship between the image display devices. An embodiment for improving operability will be described. In addition,
Also in this embodiment, two image display devices are arranged in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction.
In the following, an example will be described in which a total of four are combined. However, in practice, the number of connections is not particularly limited, and an arbitrary number of image display devices can be connected to form a multi-screen display device. is there.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image display device according to the second embodiment. In the figure, 3001a, 3
Reference numerals 001b and 3001c denote receiving units, respectively, which have the same functions as the receiving units 2001a to 2001c described with reference to FIG. Reference numerals 2022a and 2022b denote connection portions for connecting the image display devices when a plurality of image display devices are connected and used, and the shape and arrangement thereof are the same as those in the first embodiment (2 in FIG. 1).
002). Reference numeral 2023 denotes a determination unit that determines whether another image display device is connected. Reference numeral 3004 denotes a decoder, and the receiving units 3001a to 3001c
A RGB component signal is generated from the video signal received in step (1). Reference numeral 3005 denotes a display control unit which enlarges an image as necessary when used as a part of a multi-screen display device, and supplies a digitally sampled video signal to a driving circuit 3007. is there.
The display control unit 3005 has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment (described with reference to FIG. 101), but in the second embodiment, a signal Sd representing a master and a slave is used.

In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the image display device is combined with two image display devices, two in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction. In 2013, the number of connections in the vertical direction = 2, the number of connections in the horizontal direction = 2, and the value of the address to which the user is connected are written. As the address to be connected, the upper left image display device = (1, 1) the upper right image display device = (2, 1) the lower left image display device = (1, 2) the lower right image display device = ( Any one of (2) and (2) is written in the display area storage unit 2013. In the second embodiment, in addition to the above information, the display area storage unit 2013 stores a setting as to whether the image display device is a master or a slave, and the setting content is transmitted from the controller 2011 as a signal Sd. Supplied to each configuration.

In the second embodiment, of the four image display devices forming the multi-screen display device, one image display device is set to the master mode, and the other is set to the slave mode.
When a plurality of image display devices are combined and used, a mechanism for sharing roles is provided as described later. Then, the settings of the master mode and the slave mode are held in the display area storage unit 2013. The display area storage unit 20
13 may be realized by a dip switch or the like, so that the above-described holding of each information may be realized.

Reference numeral 3007 denotes a driving circuit, which is a display panel 3
008 is a circuit for supplying a drive signal. Drive circuit 30
Since the driving method of 07 differs depending on the type and type of the display panel, it will not be described in detail here.

In FIG. 7, the power supply switching unit 3009
When the signal Sd indicates that the device is a master, the power supply from the power plug is supplied into the device and the power is supplied to the outside through the connection portion 2022b. If the signal Sd indicates a slave, the connection unit 202
Power supplied via 2a is provided into the device.
However, when the signal Sc from the connection determination unit 3023 indicates “non-connection”, power is supplied from the plug to the device regardless of the signal Sd because no other image display device is connected. .

The connection unit 2022a shuts off externally supplied power and video signals when the signal Sd indicates a master, and disconnects external power and video signals when the signal Sd indicates a slave. Is supplied to the power switching unit 3009 and the decoder 3004. Also, the connection section 2022b
When the signal Sd indicates that the signal is a master, the power supplied from the power supply switching unit 3009 is supplied to the outside, and the video signal supplied from the decoder 3004 is supplied to the outside. If the signal Sd indicates a slave, the connection unit 2022b supplies power or a video signal (analog RGB) supplied from outside via the connection unit 2022a.
Signal) to the outside.

When the signal Sc indicates that the connection is not established or the signal Sd indicates the master, the decoder 3004 selects one of the video signals S1 to S3, generates an analog RGB signal, and controls the display. Unit 3005 and connection unit 202
2b. On the other hand, when the signal Sc indicates the connection and the signal Sd indicates the slave, the decoder 3004 selects the video signal supplied from the connection unit 2022a, generates an analog RGB signal, and supplies the analog RGB signal to the display control unit 3005. I do.

When the image display device of the present embodiment is used alone, any of the receiving units 3001a to 3001c receives a video signal, and when an input source is selected in the decoder 3004, the image signal is converted into an analog RGB signal. Display control unit 3
005. The display control unit 3005 AD-converts the analog RGB signal into a digital RGB signal. When used alone (when the signal Sc indicates no connection), the sampling timing of the analog RGB signal is the timing shown in FIG. 4, whereby the image of the same size as the original video signal is displayed on the image display device. Is done.

When a plurality of image display devices are combined and used as a multi-screen display device, the connection unit 2022 is used.
a, 2022b, and is connected to another image display device. In the present embodiment, the connection units 2022a,
022b is a connector for connecting the image display devices. In the present embodiment, as the connection units 2022a and 2022b,
As shown in FIG. 1, a connector for connecting the image display devices is arranged, and the video signal and the audio signal are shared by the connector, and also have a role of supplying power as described in the first embodiment. . Thus, when connecting to a plurality of image display devices, the power cord does not have to be plugged for each image display device, and image display is performed by plugging in a power plug of any one image display device. It is effective in that it can be done.

When an image display device is connected, the connection determination unit 3023 detects that power is supplied from the connection unit 2022a and that a current is flowing, and that another image display device is connected. The display control unit 300
5, the decoder 3004, the receiving units 3001a to 3001c, and the power switching unit 3009 are notified of this (FIG. 7, signal S
c).

The image display device set to the master mode receives signals in the receiving units 3001a to 3001c, and
004 performs decoding, and the display control device 2005
To supply analog RGB signals to the
An analog RGB signal (video signal S4) is supplied to 22b.

On the other hand, in the image display device set as the slave, if the connection judging unit 3023 judges that the connection is being made, the display control unit 3005 and the decoder 300
4. The receiving units 3001a to 3001c and the power switching unit 3009 are notified of this (signal Sc in FIG. 7). The signal S
Receiving unit 300 of the image display device in which d is set as a slave
When it is determined by signals Sc that the connection is in progress, the operation is suspended and the power saving mode is set. Also, the decoder 200
4 is also determined as being connected by the signal Sc, the connection unit 202
The video signal S4 supplied from 2a is selected and supplied to the display control unit, and the decoder unit for decoding other video signals S1 to S3 is stopped. The video signal, audio signal, power supply voltage, and the like supplied from the connection unit 2022a
b to supply the above-mentioned signal to another image display device.

When the display control unit 3005 detects that the connection is being established by the signal Sc, as described in the first embodiment, the enlargement control unit 2012 generates a sampling pulse having the timing shown in FIGS. Generated and supplied to the AD converters 2010a to 2010c. The digital video signal sampled by such a sampling pulse is converted to a data array conversion circuit 2014.
After being rearranged in accordance with the pixel arrangement, the data is stored in the frame memory and output to the driving circuit 3007. Note that since it is necessary to display an image in the vertical direction by a factor of two, the vertical video signal read at double speed by the drive circuit 3007 is displayed two lines at a time, as described in the first embodiment. .

In FIG. 7, the connection determination unit 3023 of each image display device detects that power is supplied and current is flowing at the connection unit 2022a, and determines that connection is being established. There is no particular limitation on this. For example, the detection may be performed using another signal such as a video signal or an audio signal, or the determination may be made by short-circuiting two pins of the connector. .

When an image display device was manufactured with the above-described configuration, when connecting and using a plurality of image display devices,
The multi-display mode is automatically switched to the multi-screen display mode, and there is an excellent effect that an image display which is completely the same as the conventional multi-screen display device can be performed.

Further, the problem that the wiring route becomes very long, which is a problem when used alone, is eliminated, and by connecting a video source to each image display device, it can be used as a single image display device. There are excellent effects such as the ability to do.

Another advantage is that, since a large-screen image display device is manufactured by combining a plurality of image display devices, even if a failure occurs, only the image display device in which the failure has occurred is used. Can be recovered only by repairing or replacing the same, and thus has an effect such as better maintainability than a flat panel display represented by a plasma display or other large screen display devices.

In the image display device set as a slave, the operation of a part of the receiving units 3001a to 3001c and the decoder circuit 3004 can be stopped, which is effective in power saving.

In the first and second embodiments, an example is shown in which a multi-screen display device is constructed by combining image display devices in a 2 × 2 format. However, a multi-screen display device in a 3 × 3 or 4 × 4 format is used. In the case of displaying, the frequency of the sampling pulse supplied to the AD converters (2001a to 2001c) is tripled and quadrupled, and the data array converter 2014 determines a portion corresponding to the position on each multi-screen display device. What is necessary is just to control so that it may be enlarged and displayed. Note that how many times the sampling frequency should be
For example, in the display area storage unit 2013, the data indicating the position on the multi-screen display device and the multi-screen display device
By storing data indicating that the data is composed of × N, it is immediately understood that the frequency should be N times as large.

[Third Embodiment] In the following third embodiment, an application method of the image display device of each of the above-described embodiments will be described.

The image display device of each of the above embodiments can be used as a single image display device, but a large screen display can be formed by combining a plurality of image display devices. This is very excellent in that an image having a screen size suitable for the purpose can be easily displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the image display device of the present embodiment. FIG. 8A shows an example of use in which nine image display devices are connected in three vertical and three horizontal directions, and is suitable for enjoying images with a large number of people because a large-screen image is displayed. This is a usage example.

FIG. 8B is an application example in which the image display device is used as a single device. When an individual enjoys an image, or when a plurality of people want to enjoy different image sources, they are separated. This is a use example suitable for, for example, enjoying a video in a room.

FIG. 8 (c) shows the case where there are eight image display devices (or using eight of the nine image display devices shown in FIG. 8 (a)). This is a usage example in which two sets of a combination of two image display devices in two directions and two image devices in the horizontal direction are produced. Depending on the user's desire, a plurality of video sources can be enjoyed in this way.

As described above, the image display device of the present invention is an excellent image display device having an extremely wide range of applications since images can be combined and displayed as screens of various sizes as required. It is very effective as a good image display device.

As described above, according to the above embodiments, a multi-screen display device including a plurality of display panels can be used as a single image display device.
Further, an image display device that can be used as a large-screen multi-screen display device in which a plurality of image display devices are combined is provided, and it is possible to meet a wide range of demands of users.

Another effect is that, since a large-screen image display device is manufactured by combining a plurality of image display devices, even if a failure occurs, only the image display device in which the failure has occurred is used. Can be recovered simply by repairing or replacing the device, and therefore, there is an effect that maintenance is better than a flat display device such as a plasma display or another large screen display device.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to display images independently, and it is possible to configure a multi-screen display device by connecting a plurality of units to each other, and it is also possible to easily combine and separate them.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image display device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display control unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sampling pulse of an AD conversion process in a display control unit at the time of equal magnification display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of one field period (one frame period in the case of a non-interlace system) of sampling pulses A to D.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of one field period (one frame period in the case of a non-interlace method) of sampling pulses A to D.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the image display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a system configuration of a general multi-screen display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a problem in the multi-screen display device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a problem in the multi-screen display device.

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An image display device capable of forming a multi-screen display device by being combined with a plurality of image display devices, comprising: a receiving means for receiving a video signal; and another image display device for forming the multi-screen display device. Connecting means for coupling to the device; determining means for determining whether or not another image display device is connected in the connecting means; determining that another image display device is coupled to the connecting means by the determining means. Display means for enlarging and displaying a portion occupied by the image display device in the multi-screen display device. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit includes an electric connection unit with another image display device. 3. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein a power supply voltage is supplied from said electrical connection means. 4. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein a video signal is supplied from said electrical connection means. 5. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein an audio signal is supplied from said electrical connection means. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store a configurational position when the display unit is combined to form a multi-screen display device, wherein the display unit stores the image based on the position obtained from the storage unit. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display device recognizes a portion occupied by the multi-screen display device. 7. The image according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the connection is established by supplying a power supply voltage from the electrical connection unit. Display device. 8. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the connection is established based on a video signal supplied from the electrical connection unit. 9. The image according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the connection is established based on the supply of the audio signal from the electrical connection unit. Display device. 10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the video signal received by the receiving unit at the same magnification when the determination unit determines that the connection is not established. An image display device according to any one of the above. 11. The multi-screen display device according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit for setting whether to operate in a master mode or a slave mode, wherein the connection unit includes a video signal connection unit, and the display unit includes When the mode is set to the master mode by the setting unit, an image is displayed based on the video signal received by the receiving unit and the video signal is output to the connection unit, and when the mode is set to the slave mode, The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display device displays an image based on a video signal supplied from the connection unit. 12. The display means displays the video signal from the reception means at the same magnification regardless of the mode set by the setting means when the determination means determines that the connection is not established. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein: 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection is determined by the determination unit and the slave mode is set by the setting unit, the operation of the reception unit is stopped. The image display device as described in the above. 14. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes a CRT. 15. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes a flat panel type image display device. 16. An image display method capable of forming a multi-screen display device by combining with a plurality of image display devices, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a video signal; and another image display for forming the multi-screen display device. A judging step of judging whether or not another image display device is being connected in the connecting means coupled with the method, and when it is judged by the judging step that another image display method is joined in the connecting means, A display step of enlarging and displaying a portion occupied by the image display device in the multi-screen display device. 17. When combined to form a multi-screen display device, the display device further comprises a storage unit for storing a position on the configuration, wherein the display step obtains information indicating the position from the storage unit, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion occupied by the image display device in the multi-screen display device is recognized based on the information.
6. The image display method according to 6. 18. The image display method according to claim 16, wherein the determination step determines whether or not the connection is being established by supplying a power supply voltage from the connection means. 19. The image display method according to claim 16, wherein the determination step determines whether or not the connection is being established based on a video signal supplied from the connection unit. 20. The image display method according to claim 16, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not a connection is being established based on a supply of an audio signal from the connection unit. 21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the display step displays the video signal received in the receiving step at an equal magnification when it is determined that the connection is not established in the determining step.
The image display method described in 1. 22. A configuration of the multi-screen display device, further comprising a setting step of setting whether to operate in a master mode or a slave mode, wherein the display step is set to a master mode by the setting step. In the case where the video signal is received by the receiving step, an image is displayed based on the video signal and the video signal is output to the connection means. 17. The image display method according to claim 16, wherein an image is displayed based on the image. 23. In the display step, when it is determined that the connection is not established in the determination step, the video signal from the reception step is displayed at the same magnification regardless of the mode set in the setting step. The image display method according to claim 22, wherein: 24. The image display method according to claim 22, wherein the operation in the receiving step is stopped when it is determined that the connection is being established in the determining step and the slave mode is set in the setting step. .