Apparatus for mounting and arranging a plurality of flat panel video displays

• US 20040021631A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RGB Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: RGB Display Corporation
• Inventors: McLaughlin, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,989,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting and arranging a plurality of flat panel video display assemblies. An a arcuate receiver segment has a lower surface for attachment to a support and an upper surface for receiving a connection plate. A connection plate is attached to the bottom of each display assembly. The receiver segment includes a central registration pin about which an edge cutout on the connection plate is aligned. The base plate has two locking tabs in spaced relation on either side of the registration pin. Each display assembly is lowered over and rotated about the registration pin so that opposed edges of the connection plate slide into respective locking relation with the locking tabs. Ten receiver segments are arranged to form a circle for mounting ten video displays. Adjacent display assemblies are fastened together to form a mechanically secure and visually seamless display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a video display assembly, comprising:

a. a receiver segment having an upper surface provided with first and second locking tabs and a registration pin, said locking tabs being located in spaced relation on either side of said registration pin, said first locking tab having an entry portion facing in one direction, and said second locking tab having an entry portion facing in another direction, opposite from said one direction; and

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b. a connection plate having a front flange and a rear flange, said connection plate being mounted to a bottom edge of the video display assembly, said front flange having a cutout,

whereby, said connection plate is first lowered onto said upper surface of said receiver segment, with said registration pin being located within said cutout, and said connection plate is then rotated about a vertical axis of the display assembly so that said front flange engages said entry portion of said first locking tab and said rear flange engages said entry portion of said second locking tab, thereby mounting said connection plate to said receiver segment.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which said entry portion of said first locking tab faces toward a front side of said receiver segment, and said entry portion of said second locking tab faces toward a rear side of said receiver segment.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which said receiver segment is arcuate.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 including a plurality of said arcuate segments arranged to form a base ring, and a plurality of respective connection plates mounted on said arcuate segments.

5. A video display assembly comprising:

a. an active matrix liquid crystal display screen having a top edge, side edges, and a bottom edge;

b. a frame surrounding said screen, said frame including a top plate on said top edge, opposing, vertical side plates on respective said side edges, and a bottom connection plate on said bottom edge, said top plate including a first connector extending from a left hand end thereof, said top plate also including a second connector extending from a right hand end thereof, said bottom connection plate including a front flange and a rear flange extending across a width of said screen, and said front flange having a front edge provided with a cutout.

6. A video display assembly as in claim 5 in which said first connector comprises a first flange and a screw hole and said second connector comprises second flange and a threaded screw.

7. A video display assembly as in claim 5 including first and second video display assemblies, in which said first connector of said first assembly is connected to said second connector of said second assembly.

8. A video display assembly as in claim 7 in which a vertical side plate of said first assembly is maintained in adjacent relation with a vertical side plate of said second assembly by said first and second connectors.

9. A video display assembly as in claim 7 in which a vertical side plate of said first assembly is maintained in slightly overlapping relation with a vertical side plate of said second assembly.

10. A video display assembly as in claim 5 including a plurality of said video display assemblies arranged to form a substantially circular array, and in which said first connector of each said assembly is connected to said second connector of an adjacent said assembly.

11. A video display assembly as in claim 10 in which said screens of said display assembly are directed inwardly toward a center of said circular array.

12. A video display assembly as in claim 11 in which said screens are driven with video information which simulates a 360 degree view for a person located in said center of said circular array.

13. A circular video display array, comprising:

a. a base ring including a plurality of arcuate receiver segments, each of said segments having a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges, adjacent ones of said receiver segments being arranged side edge to side edge in abutting relation to form a circle, said segments having an upper surface provided with first and second locking means; and

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b. a plurality of flat panel video display assemblies, each of said display assemblies including a flat screen provided with a surrounding frame, said surrounding frame comprised of a top plate, opposing, vertical side plates, and a bottom connection plate, said top plate including a first connection means on a left hand end thereof, and said top plate including a second connection means on a right hand end thereof, said bottom connection plate including a front flange and a rear flange;

whereby, each of said display assemblies together with its associated bottom connection plate is sequentially lowered over and rotated into locking engagement with said locking means on a respective receiver segment, and said first connection means of each display assembly is mated to said second connection means of an adjacent display assembly to form a substantially circular display.

14. A display as in claim 13 in which said first connection means comprises a first flange extending outwardly from a left hand end of said top plate and said second connection means comprises a second flange extending from a right hand end of said top plate, said first flange including a screw hole and said second flange including a screw.

15. A display as in claim 13 in which said first and second locking means comprises first and second locking tabs and a registration pin, said locking tabs being located in spaced relation on either side of said registration pin, said first locking tab having an entry portion facing in one direction, and said second locking tab having an entry portion facing in another direction, opposite from said one direction.

16. A video display array as in claim 13 in which said screens of said display assemblies are directed inwardly toward a center of said circular array.

17. A video display array as in claim 13 in which said screens are driven with video information which simulates a 360 degree field of view for a person located in a center of said circular array.

18. A video display array as in claim 13 in which said screens are active matrix liquid crystal display screens.

19. A video display array as in claim 13 in which said base ring is mounted over a base plate, said base plate including a plurality of upwardly extending registration pins corresponding to a predetermined location for each of said receiver segments, and in which each of said receiver segments includes a plurality of registration apertures for receipt of a respective one of said registration pins when said receiver segments are lowered over said base plate.