Display

A display, includes: a display section; a first output section; a second output section; and a housing containing the display section, the first output section, and the second output section, wherein, the display section has an aspect ratio with a width more than twice a height, the first output section is arranged along an upper side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio, and the second output section is arranged along a lower side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2007-317957, filed in the Japan Patent Office on Dec. 10, 2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display. In particular, the present invention relates to a display that enables a user to experience an ambience with improved realism.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many television receivers have loudspeakers arranged on left and right sides thereof to enable their users to enjoy stereophonic sound. Thus, the users are able to listen to two channels of audio, with one channel for the left side and the other for the right side, so that the users can enjoy sound with improved realism.

For example, JP-A-Hei 6-35489 describes a technique of preparing a center channel in addition to the left and right channels to achieve a total of three channels, allowing an audio of the center channel to be outputted via loudspeakers arranged at upper and lower positions on a television receiver, and placing acoustic lenses in front of the center-channel loudspeakers to localize an acoustic image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, even with the structure of the above technique, it is difficult to enable the user to experience an ambience with a great sense of realism.

The present invention addresses the above-identified, and other problems associated with existing methods and apparatuses, and enables the user to experience an ambience with improved realism.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display including: a display section; a first output section; a second output section; and a housing containing the display section, the first output section, and the second output section. The display section has an aspect ratio with a width more than twice a height. The first output section is arranged along an upper side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio. The second output section is arranged along a lower side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a housing of a display includes a display section, a first output section, and a second output section. The display section has an aspect ratio with a width more than twice a height. The first output section is arranged along an upper side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio. The second output section is arranged along a lower side of the display section so as to face forward and is configured to output a plurality of channels of audio.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to enable a user to experience an ambience with improved realism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2illustrates the structure of a front of a display21according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the display21according to this embodiment is a slim display, and has a housing30that contains a display section31, a first output section32, and a second output section33.

The display section31is arranged at approximately the middle of the housing30. The display section31has an aspect ratio with a width more than twice a height. The display section31may be formed by a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, for example.

In the case of a high-definition television system, the aspect ratio is 16:9. This system provides more powerful images than an NTSC system with an aspect ratio of 4:3, but the images provided by the high-definition television system are not powerful enough to enable a user to feel a great sense of realism. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, “Scope size” having an aspect ratio with the width more than approximately twice the height, as typified by CinemaScope® movie, is adopted.

Thus, in the case where a broadcast video of a soccer game is displayed, for example, it is possible to display not only images showing spectators perform a wave in a stadium but also images showing other spectators watching the wave at the same time. Accordingly, the user is able to choose images that he or she desires to focus his or her attention on from among all images displayed on the display section31, so that the user can experience images with improved realism.

In addition, the display section31is capable of displaying an image based on subordinate information such as metadata. For example, while main images showing the development of the game played in the soccer stadium are displayed on the display section31, the following is displayed below the main images: current scores “0-1”; an emblem image51-1of a team having a score of 0; thumbnail images52-1to52-12of players on this team; an emblem image51-2of a team having a score of 1; thumbnail images53-1to53-12of players on this team; and so on.

Inside the housing30, the first output section32, which outputs a plurality of channels of audio, is arranged along an upper side31U of the display section31so as to extend in a longitudinal direction and face forward (i.e., be oriented in the same direction as the display section31). In this embodiment, the first output section32is configured to output three channels of audio, the three channels being an upper left channel, an upper center channel, and an upper right channel. The first output section32includes loudspeakers41,42, and43, each of which outputs audio of a separate channel.

Further, in this embodiment, the loudspeaker41, which outputs audio of the upper left channel, is composed of three loudspeakers41-1to41-3. The loudspeakers41-1to41-3are of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker42, which outputs audio of the upper center channel, is composed of four loudspeakers42-1to42-4. The loudspeakers42-1to42-4are also of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker43, which outputs audio of the upper right channel, is composed of three loudspeakers43-1to43-3. The loudspeakers43-1to43-3are also of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

Moreover, inside the housing30, the second output section33, which outputs a plurality of channels of audio, is arranged along a lower side31D of the display section31so as to extend in the longitudinal direction and face forward (i.e., be oriented in the same direction as the display section31). In this embodiment, the second output section33is configured to output three channels of audio, the three channels being a lower left channel, a lower center channel, and a lower right channel. The second output section33includes loudspeakers44,45, and46, each of which outputs audio of a separate channel.

Still further, in this embodiment, the loudspeaker44, which outputs audio of the lower left channel, is composed of three loudspeakers44-1to44-3. The loudspeakers44-1to44-3are of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker45, which outputs audio of the lower center channel, is composed of four loudspeakers45-1to45-4. The loudspeakers45-1to45-4are also of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker46, which outputs audio of the lower right channel, is composed of three loudspeakers46-1to46-3. The loudspeakers46-1to46-3are also of the same type and form a kind of a column loudspeaker.

A location of a source of sound outputted by the first output section32differs in distance from a location of a source of sound outputted by the second output section33. In this embodiment, the three channels of the first output section32output sounds whose sources are more distant than the sources of sounds outputted from the second output section33.

Both the left-channel loudspeakers41and44output left-channel audio. The loudspeaker41outputs the audio of the upper left channel, which is audio of a left channel for relatively distant sound sources, whereas the loudspeaker44outputs the audio of the lower left channel, which is audio of a left channel for relatively close sound sources.

Both the center-channel loudspeakers42and45output center-channel audio. The loudspeaker42outputs the audio of the upper center channel, which is audio of a center channel for relatively distant sound sources, whereas the loudspeaker45outputs the audio of the lower center channel, which is audio of a center channel for relatively close sound sources.

Both the right-channel loudspeakers43and46output right-channel audio. The loudspeaker43outputs the audio of the upper right channel, which is audio of a right channel for relatively distant sound sources, whereas the loudspeaker46outputs the audio of the lower right channel, which is audio of a right channel for relatively close sound sources.

As described above, audios of a total of six channels are outputted: an audio corresponding to relatively distant, left side sounds; an audio corresponding to relatively distant, central sounds; an audio corresponding to relatively distant, right side sounds; an audio corresponding to relatively close, left side sounds; an audio corresponding to relatively close, central sounds; and an audio corresponding to relatively close, right side sounds. This contributes to enabling the user to experience the sound with improved realism.

Note that it may be so arranged that the first output section32outputs sounds whose sources are relatively close and the second output section33outputs sounds whose sources are relatively distant. However, the user will have more natural sensation in the case where the first output section32outputs the sounds whose sources are relatively distant and the second output section33outputs the sounds whose sources are relatively close.

Note that each of the loudspeakers41and46may be composed of only one loudspeaker. In that case also, the user will be able to experience the sound with sufficient realism.

In the case where each of the loudspeakers41to46is composed of a plurality of loudspeakers to form a kind of a column loudspeaker, directivity in a direction in which the loudspeakers are arranged (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the display section31) is narrower than directivity in a direction perpendicular to that direction (i.e., a vertical direction of the display section31). Accordingly, the more rightward the user is relative to the display section31, the more distant the user will feel the left side sounds are, whereas the more leftward the user is relative to the display section31, the more distant the user will feel the right side sounds are. Thus, the user can have different sensations depending on where the user is at the time of watching, which will lead to more improved realism.

Note that each of the loudspeakers41-1to46-3may be formed by a common cone loudspeaker. In the present embodiment, the shape of each of the loudspeakers41-1to46-3as viewed from the front is assumed to be elliptical. Note, however, that the shape of each of the loudspeakers41-1to46-3as viewed from the front may be circular. Also note that another type of a loudspeaker than the cone loudspeakers may be adopted as each of the loudspeakers41-1to46-3.

Both the first output section32and the second output section33are contained inside the housing30. Therefore, in comparison to the case where a plurality of loudspeakers are prepared independently of the display and the loudspeakers are placed ahead of and behind the user, the space required for installation is reduced, resulting in an efficient use of the space. In addition, because there is no need to adjust the locations of the loudspeakers, the user is able to experience the sense of realism easily.

As shown inFIG. 3, a fitting part61is provided on a back of the display21. The display21is slim, and the back of the display21is substantially shaped like a circular arc when viewed from a side. Thus, the display21has a structure suitable for installation of the display with the Scope size. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 4, the display21can be fit on a wall71such that the display21is fixed at a position close to the wall71. Thus, the user will be able to use space in his or her room efficiently, because the display21occupies only a limited portion of free space in the room.

The fitting part61can be rotated up and down and left and right. By adjusting the position of the fitting part61, it is possible to allow the display21to face downward at a slight angle to the horizontal, as shown inFIG. 5. It is also possible to rotate the display21horizontally as well, as needed, to allow the display21to face in an appropriate direction.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, an exhaust fin72is provided on a left side of the housing30. Heat inside the housing30escapes through the exhaust fin72. Although not shown in any of the accompanying drawings, the exhaust fin72is provided on a right side of the housing30as well.

FIG. 6shows an electrical structure of a block100for driving the display21. This block100may be either provided independently of the display21or united with the display21to form a television receiver.

The block100receives a video signal, the subordinate information, and an audio signal via a video signal input section101, a subordinate information input section102, and an audio signal input section105, respectively. The video signal, the subordinate information, and the audio signal are supplied from a tuner (not shown) or an external device.

The video signal input section101supplies the received video signal to a driving section103. The subordinate information input section102generates a video signal based on the received subordinate information, and supplies the generated video signal to the driving section103. The driving section103superimposes the video signal based on the subordinate information upon the video signal supplied from the video signal input section101, and supplies a resulting video signal to an image display section104. The image display section104, which corresponds to the display section31, displays an image corresponding to the received video signal.

Upon receipt of a 6-channel audio signal, the audio signal input section105supplies the received 6-channel audio signal to a driving section106. The driving section106separates the 6-channel audio signal into six audio signals each corresponding to a separate one of the six channels, and outputs the six audio signals to audio output sections107to112. The audio output sections107to112correspond to the loudspeakers41to46, respectively, and output audios corresponding to the audio signals of their respective channels.

A control section113is formed by a microcomputer or the like, for example. The control section113controls an operation of each part, and also controls exhaust sections114and115to allow the heat inside the housing30to escape through the left and right exhaust fins72.