Control system for an electronic sign (video display system)

• US 20040212638A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent Henry Berger, Brett David Wendler, Daniel Anthony Schulte, Joseph Gerard Schulte, Reece Alan Kurtenbach
• Original Assignee: Brent Henry Berger, Brett David Wendler, Daniel Anthony Schulte, Joseph Gerard Schulte, Reece Alan Kurtenbach
• Inventors: Schulte, Daniel Anthony, Wendler, Brett David, Kurtenbach, Reece Alan, Berger, Brent Henry, Schulte, Joseph Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/008 Sun shades, shades, hoods or louvres on electronic displays to minimise the effect of direct sun light on the display
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display

Abstract

A video display system including an electronic sign, a electronic sign control system utilizing a general purpose personal computer, having a video interface card, controlled by clock and command signals from said personal computer, containing a plurality of video and digital input ports and a high speed output port, a transmitter link control card, also under the control of clock and command signals from said personal computer, for transmitting video display, clock, and command signals to a remote data receiver and distributor associated with the electronic sign, which converts said signals into device control signals for controlling individual sign display elements.

Claims

1. A process for generating data to switch a driver comprising the steps of:

a. generating first data signals and clock signal by a data distributor output board;

b. receiving said data signals and clock signal by a line controller;

c. storing the signals of data and clock in RAM;

d. generating second data and clock signals, and latch signals; and

,

f. receiving the data and clock signals by a display module for turning light drivers on or off, whereby a data distributor sends the first data and clock signals to a column director.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the line controller generates an output enable signal which is sent to the display module for controlling intensity of the lamp driver.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the data distributor receives configuration data in command bytes from a computer including, but not limited to, technology type and size of a display.

4. A video display system comprising:

a. a controller;

b. a data transmission means in said controller for establishing and defining transmission protocol;

c. a video interface means connected to said data transmission means;

d. a data distributor means connected to said video interface means;

e. a column director means connected to said data distributor means;

f. a driver means connected to said column director means; and

,

g. a video display means connected to said driver means.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said controller is a computer.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said dual line controller includes a column director means.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said video display means is CED.

8. The system of claim 4, including means for calibration of said video display means in said driver means.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said calibration means is for a module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said calibration means is for a pixel to pixel.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein said data distributor receives configuration data from said controller in bytes over a fiber optic data transmission for configuring technology type and said video display means size.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein said video interface means receives input data from said controller and from multiple video input sources with an input to select at least one input which is sent to video display means.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein said data distributor means transmits a data stream to said dual line controller means, a column director means, and a line controller means to locations of said video display means.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said data stream includes one encoded dock line signal and at least one data signal line for fill in the blank.

27. A control system according to claim 11, wherein said output port provides an optical signal.

28. A control system according to claim 27, including wherein said clock signals include at least one class in addition to said column director latch signals.

29. A control system according to claim 27, wherein said clock signal classes are distinguished by their duration.

30. A control system according to claim 27, wherein said varying characteristic of said clock signals supplied to said clock signal decode means is the duration of said clock pulses.

31. A control system according to claim 28, wherein said varying characteristic of said clock signals supplied to said clock signal decode means is the duration of said clock pulses.

32. A control system according to claim 28, wherein the varying characteristic of said column director latch clock signal class is a greater duration than other of said classes.

33. A control system according to claim 29, wherein the distinguishing characteristic of said column director latch clock signal class is a greater duration than other of said classes.

34. A control system according to claim 28, wherein said column director latch clock signals have a greater pulse width than other of said clock pulse classes.

35. A control system according to claim 27, wherein each pulse of said classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said clock signals.

36. A control system according to claim 28, wherein each pulse of classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said classes.

37. A control system according to claim 29, wherein each pulse of classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said classes.

15. A data transmission protocol comprising:

a. a data transmission means in said controller for protocol;

b. a video interface means connected to said data transmission means;

c. a data distributor means connected to said video interface means; and

,

d. a dual line controller means including a column dire.

16. In a control system for a remote electronic sign, data distributor means, for receiving command, clock and data signals for controlling the display on a remote electric sign from a video link control unit, comprising;

a. receiver means for generating data signals, responsive to display data, and clock signals having a varying characteristic according their functions, from a video link control unit, said receiver means including;

(1) buffer means for storing said data signals;

(2) clock signal decode means responsive to a first, column director latch, clock signal class for triggering an output control function signal;

b. transmitter means, connected to said buffer means and responsive to said output control function signal to pass data signals stored in said buffer means and said clock signals decode means to an output port; and

,

c. line controller means connected to said output port and responsive to data signals and clock signals at said output port for developing display element control signals effective to cause said data to be displayed an electronic sign.

17. A control system according to claim 16, including wherein said clock signals include at least one class in addition to said column director latch signals.

18. A control system according to claim 16, wherein said clock signal classes are distinguished by their duration.

19. A control system according to claim 16, wherein said varying characteristic of said clock signals supplied to said clock signal decode means is the duration of said clock pulses.

20. A control system according to claim 17, wherein said varying characteristic of said clock signals supplied to said clock signal decode means is the duration of said clock pulses.

21. A control system according to claim 17, wherein the varying characteristic of said column director latch clock signal class is a greater duration than other of said classes.

22. A control system according to claim 18, wherein the distinguishing characteristic of said column director latch clock signal class is a greater duration than other of said classes.

23. A control system according to claim 17, wherein said column director latch clock signals have a greater pulse width than other of said clock pulse classes.

24. A control system according to claim 16, wherein each pulse of said classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said clock signals.

25. A control system according to claim 17, wherein each pulse of classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said classes.

26. A control system according to claim 18, wherein each pulse of classes of said column director latch clock signal class has a greater duration than the other of said classes.

38. A control system for an electronic sign having individual display elements, comprising:

a. analog video input means for accepting an input video signal to be displayed;

b. ADC means for coverting said video input signal to a first, digital video signal, form;

c. means for generating a second, digital signal representing graphic data to be displayed;

d. digital processing means for combining said digital video signal and said graphic digital signal to provide a digital display signal representing the combination of said input video signal and said graphic data; and

,

e. control means, responsive to said digital display signal for applying said digital display signal to said individual display elements.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein said digital display signal is effective to control the intensity of the output of said individual display elements.

40. A system according to claim 38, wherein said digital display signal is effective to control the intensity and the color of the output of said individual display elements.

41. A system according to claim 38, wherein said digital display signal is effective to control the color of the output of said individual display elements.

42. A system according to claim 38, wherein said analog video input means accommodates a plurality of input video signals.

43. A system according to claim 42, wherein said analog video input means includes means for selecting one of said plurality of said input video signals.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein said means for selecting analog video input means includes switch means for selecting signals from said plurality of said input video signals.

45. In a control system for an electronic sign:

a. computer means, responsive to input data representing information to be displayed on a sign, for generating first digital control signals for individual pixel elements of the sign;

b. a first optical output port;

c. means for generating a first optical output signal, responsive to said first control signal, at said first output port;

d. fiber optic means, connected to said first output port computer; and

,

e. controller means connected to said fiber optic means for receiving said first optical signal to derive said first digital control signals and distributed said control signals to the individual pixel elements of said sign, whereby said input data is displayed on said sign.

47. A control system according to claim 45, wherein said controller means includes:

a. line controller means, having an optical receiver means connected to said fiber optic means to receive said selected optical signal and derive said first digital control signal for distribution to the individual pixel elements of said sign whereby said input data is displayed on said sign.

46. In a control system for an electronic sign having:

a. computer means, responsive to input data, representing information to be displayed on a sign, for generating a first optical output signal at a first output port, representing first digital control signals for individual pixel elements of said sign;

b. optical transmitter means having an input port and connected to said first output port for generating a second optical signal at said output port corresponding to second digital control signals for individual pixel elements of said sign, and representing second digital control signals applied to said input port;

c. control means, responsive to commands from said computer for selectively enabling either said first or second optical signals;

d. fiber optic means, connected to said output port to convey said selected optical signals to said sign; and

,

e. controller means connected to said fiber optic means for receiving said selected optical signal to derive the selected of said first or second digital control signals and distribute said control signals to the individual pixel elements of said sign, whereby said input data is displayed on said sign.