# US 12,222,529 B2 · Display switching device, button device for game machine, and switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,529 B2 - Document ID: US12222529B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/527,241 - Filed: 2021-11-16 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-22 - Assignees: OMRON Corporation - Applicants: OMRON Corporation - Inventors: Yuto Mori; Masayuki Shinohara; Gouo Kurata; Hayato Yoshida; Masao Mishina - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222529B2 ## CPC - G02B 5/0278: {used in transmission} - G02B 3/0006: {Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence)} - G02B 30/31: involving active parallax barriers (involving directional light or back-light sources G02B30/33) - G02B 30/33: involving directional light or back-light sources - G07F 17/3206: {Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics} - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G02B 5/021: {the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures} - G02B 30/27: involving lenticular arrays - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A display switching device according to one or more embodiments may display images by switching light illumination from multiple light source positions. The device may include a lens array including multiple lenses that allow passage of light from the light source positions, a display layer including pixel regions that allow passage of light collected on the lenses included in the lens array, and a diffusion layer located opposite to the light source positions with the lens array in between to diffuse passing light. The diffusion layer optically adheres to a layer adjacent to a surface of the diffusion layer nearer the light source positions, or the diffusion layer and the layer adjacent the surface of the diffusion layer nearer the light source positions include the same material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display switching device for switching display images by switching light illumination from a plurality of light source positions, the display switching device comprising: a lens array including a plurality of lenses configured to allow passage of light from the plurality of light source positions; a display layer including a plurality of pixel regions configured to allow passage of light collected on the plurality of lenses comprised in the lens array; and a diffusion layer located opposite to the plurality of light source positions with the lens array in between, the diffusion layer being configured to diffuse passing light, wherein the diffusion layer optically adheres to a layer adjacent to one of two surfaces of the diffusion layer nearer the plurality of light source positions, or the diffusion layer and the layer adjacent to one of two surfaces of the diffusion layer nearer the plurality of light source positions comprise a same material, and the diffusion layer has a thickness 0.3 times or less a lens pitch of the plurality of lenses comprised in the lens array when the diffusion layer has a haze of 98% or less. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display switching device according to claim 1, wherein the lens array, the diffusion layer, and the display layer are arranged in an order of the lens array, the diffusion layer, and the display layer from the plurality of light source positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The display switching device according to claim 2, wherein the relation: θ3≥θ1−θ2 is satisfied, where θ1 is an angle of incidence of light from one of the plurality of light source positions entering an outermost lens of the plurality of lenses comprised in the lens array, θ2 is an angle at which a central light quantity of parallel light entering the plurality of lenses comprised in the lens array is halved, and θ3 is an angle at which an intensity is to be 10% of an intensity at an emission angle of 0 degrees in diffusion properties of the diffusion layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The display switching device according to claim 2, wherein the relation: n2−0.2≤n1≤n2+0.2 is satisfied, where n1 is a refractive index of the diffusion layer, and n2 is a refractive index of the lens array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display switching device according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion layer is a single layer comprising a material having diffusibility and adhesiveness to the lens array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The display switching device according to claim 1, wherein the lens array comprises, on a surface adjacent to the display layer, a diffusion pattern for diffusing light passing through the lens array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The display switching device according to claim 6, wherein the diffusion pattern on the lens array comprises a plurality of lens shapes, and the diffusion pattern has a height 0.3 times or less a lens pitch of the plurality of lenses comprised in the lens array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The display switching device according to claim 6, wherein the diffusion pattern on the lens array comprises a plurality of lens shapes, and each of the plurality of lens shapes has a tangent to a cross-sectional profile of the lens shape forming a maximum inclination angle of 60 degrees or less with a boundary surface with the display layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The display switching device according to claim 6, wherein the diffusion pattern on the lens array comprises a plurality of unit shapes, and the plurality of unit shapes comprise at least two different shapes arranged at dispersed locations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The display switching device according to claim 2, wherein the lens array comprises a plurality of lenses shaped to collect and focus light from the plurality of light source positions on a boundary between the diffusion layer and the display layer or a position farther from the plurality of light source positions than the boundary. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The display switching device according to claim 2, wherein the lens array comprises a plurality of lenses shaped to collect and focus light from the plurality of light source positions on a position farther from the plurality of light source positions than a boundary between the lens and the diffusion layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The display switching device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pixel-surrounding region surrounding the plurality of pixel regions and configured to reduce reflection or transmission of light from the plurality of light source positions or a position opposite to the plurality of light source positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The display switching device according to claim 12, wherein the pixel-surrounding region has a reflectance of 50% or less with respect to light from the position opposite to the plurality of light source positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The display switching device according to claim 12, wherein the pixel-surrounding region has a transmittance of 50% or less with respect to light from the plurality of light source positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The display switching device according to claim 12, wherein the pixel-surrounding region has a colored area corresponding to a pattern visible with light from the position opposite to the plurality of light source positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The display switching device according to claim 12, wherein the pixel-surrounding region is nearer at least the diffusion layer in a thickness direction of the display layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The display switching device according to claim 12, wherein when the diffusion layer is adjacent to one of two surfaces of the display layer opposite to the plurality of light source positions, the diffusion layer is thicker in an area in contact with the plurality of pixel regions than in an area in contact with the pixel-surrounding region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A button device for a game machine, the device comprising: a button body; and the display switching device according to claim 1, wherein the button body is to be depressed into a housing of the game machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A switch, comprising: the display switching device according to claim 1, wherein the switch detects a user operation on the display switching device.