Display apparatus having mechanism for opening and closing display panel

A control device for controlling operation of a mechanism for opening and closing a display panel hinged to a main body of a display apparatus, the control device comprising:

• a position detector for detecting a position of the display panel relative to the main body;
• a rotatable member that is rotatable around the hinged portion, the rotatable member being driven by an opening and closing mechanism together with the display panel to a rest position and to a display position of the display panel;
• and
• a holding device for holding the rotatable member at the rest position and the display position and for releasing the rotatable member at moving positions other than the rest position and the display position;
• an actuator for bringing the holding device to a holding state, where the rotatable member is held by the holding device, and to a releasing state, where the rotatable member is released from the holding device;
• and
• means for controlling the actuator, so that the states of the holding device change from the holding state to the releasing state when the opening and closing mechanism starts its operation, and from the releasing state to the holding state when the opening and the closing mechanism stops its operation.

A method of opening and closing a display panel hinged to a main body of a display apparatus, comprising steps of, the steps being performed in the following order:

• restricting movement of the display panel at a rest position of the display panel;
• allowing the display panel to freely move relative to the main body;
• driving the display panel from the rest position to a desired position;
• restricting movement of the display panel at the desired position;
• allowing the display panel to freely move relative to the main body;
• driving the display panel from the desired position to the rest position;
• and
• restricting movement of the display panel at the rest position.