Digital playback device

• US 20030067437A1
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imagearray Limited
• Original Assignee: Imagearray Limited
• Inventors: Lambert, Paul Hirsh, McClintock, Dale Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,956,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players

Abstract

A digital playback device is disclosed for displaying at least a portion of a visual presentation. One described device includes a housing, a display device supported by the housing and a self-contained computer in communication with the display device. The computer is disposed within the housing and positioned relative to the display device to define a thermal airspace between the display device and the computer.

Claims

1. A digital playback device comprising:

a housing;

a display device supported by the housing; and

a self-contained computer in communication with the display device, the computer disposed within the housing and positioned relative to the display device to define a thermal airspace between the display device and the computer, the computer including;

at least one processor;

a volatile memory;

a non-volatile memory;

video data representing a visual presentation stored within the persistent memory; and

control logic operative to control playback of the visual presentation.

2. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the computer is disposed within an enclosure.

3. The digital playback device of claim 1, further comprising:

a backlight disposed between the display device and the computer, the backlight positioned relative to the display device and the computer to define a first thermal airspace between the display device and the backlight and a second thermal airspace between the backlight and the computer.

4. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the housing and the display device partially enclose the computer.

5. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the housing and the display device substantially enclose the computer, the housing defining at least one aperture to enable dissipation of heat generated by the computer.

6. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the display device is an LCD screen.

7. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the display device is an LED screen.

8. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the display device is a rear projection screen.

9. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the display device is a plasma monitor.

10. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the computer further includes audio data representing an audio presentation stored within the persistent memory and an audio subsystem operative to playback the audio presentation.

11. The digital playback device of claim 7, further including a network communication subsystem, the control logic further operative to manage communications between the digital playback device and an external controller, and wherein the audio data is received from the external controller via the network communication subsystem.

12. The digital playback device of claim 1, further including schedule data representing a schedule for playing the video presentation, and wherein the control logic is operative to direct playback of the video presentation based on the schedule data.

13. The digital playback device of claim 12, further including a network communication subsystem, the control logic being further operative to manage communications between the digital playback device and an external controller, and wherein the schedule data is received from the external controller via the network communication subsystem.

14. The digital playback device of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further operative to synchronize the playback of the video presentation with at least one other digital playback device.

15. The digital playback device of claim 14, wherein the control logic employs internally generated time information.

16. The digital playback device of claim 14, wherein the control logic employs externally generated time information.

17. The digital playback device of claim 1, further including a network communication subsystem, and wherein the control logic is further operative to manage communications between the digital playback device and an external controller.

18. The digital playback device of claim 17, wherein the video data is received via the network communication subsystem.