Electronic interlocking graphics panel formed of modular interconnecting parts

• US 20050178034A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advertiles Corporation Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Vistoys Pty Limited
• Inventors: Schubert, Thomas, Brownlie, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/605
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A modular display panel is formed of a segmented symmetrical graphics panel having display pixels. The panel'"'"'s interlock in for directions to allow forming larger electronic graphics panel. The preferred shape of the panel is square, defining a perimeter with for edge surfaces. Each of those edge surfaces includes an electrical connection thereon. A frame assembly forms the outer portion of the panel, thereby allowing providing of signals and power to the units.

Claims

1. A modular graphics paneled assembly comprising:

a first modular block, including a display surface, an edge portion defining at least one flat surface, first contacts for power distribution and second contacts for signal distribution, located on said at least one flat surface, and a mechanical interlock portion formed on the edge surface.

2. An assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a second modular block, where the connection portion of said first modular block interlocks with a corresponding connection portion of said second modular block, and the first contacts of said first modular block are connected to the first contacts of said second modular block.

3. An assembly as in claim 1, further comprising tristate buffers, connected to said second contacts, allowing each of said second contacts to be used to used as either input or output contacts depending on an orientation of a modular blocks.

4. An assembly as in claim 2, further comprising a frame assembly, surrounding said first and second modular blocks, and at least one portion of said frame assembly connected to said first and second contacts.

5. An assembly as in claim 4, wherein said assembly includes four of said modular blocks arranged into a substantially rectangular shape.

6. An assembly as in claim 4, wherein said frame assembly includes Universal serial bus circuitry, receiving a universal serial bus signal, and communicating said Universal Serial Bus signal to said second contacts.

7. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein each of said modular blocks includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. An assembly as in claim 2, wherein said connecting portions have a substantially trapezoidal shape, and can be connected with other connecting portions by motion in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of said modular blocks, but cannot be connected or disconnected by motion in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of said modular blocks.

9. An assembly as in claim 2, wherein said connecting portions have a substantially trapezoidal shape with first and second parallel sides, one of which is sides is longer than the other, and first and second sloped sides, extending between said first and second parallel sides.

10. A modular display unit comprising:

a symmetrical housing, having a top surface with a controllable display portion thereon, and edge portions with mechanically interlocking portions thereon, each mechanically interlocking portion on one of said edge portions being sized and shaped to interlock with an edge portion on the different one of said housings, and said housing including a connector portion thereon supplying a electrical connection and signal connection to said display portion.

11. A unit as in claim 10, wherein said connector portion is formed on said edge portion.

12. A unit as in claim 11, wherein said connector portion is formed on each surface of said edge portion.

13. A unit as in claim 11, wherein said modular unit is formed with an outer perimeter having for substantially linear portions forming a substantially square outer perimeter, and said connector portion is formed on each of said linear portions.

14. A unit as in claim 10, wherein said mechanically interlocking portion is formed of beveled edges which connect with other beveled edges.

15. A unit as in claim 10, wherein said mechanically interlocking portion is formed of a specified shape to only connect to the units which have their top face is in the same direction.

16. A unit as in claim 10, further comprising tristate buffers, connected to said connectors.

17. A display assembly, comprising:

a plurality of modular units, each of said modular units being a symmetrical shape and having flat edges which interconnected with other modular units, said plurality of modular units arranged into an array and each of said modular units having an electrical connection which connects to another module unit; and

a frame portion, surrounding a perimeter of the matrix of modular units, and connecting to at least one of the matrix of modular units.

18. An assembly as in claim 17, wherein each of said modular units has a substantially square shape, forming four edge portions defining the perimeter of the modular units.

19. An assembly as in claim 17, wherein said electrical connection is formed on each of said for edge portions, thereby allowing connection between the plurality of modular units and to the frame portion.

20. An assembly as in claim 17, wherein the frame portion includes electrical circuitry therein.

21. An assembly as in claim 17, further comprising a memory, within the electrical circuitry, providing information to be displayed on the modular units.

22. A method, comprising:

assembling a plurality of modular display panels into a desired shape;

determining positions of each of said display panels, and forming a map defining said positions; and

sending an overall display to said device of said desired shape, by using said map to determine which parts of the device should display which portions.

23. A method, comprising:

assembling a modular display panel by connecting a first portion of the display panel to a second portion of the display panel; and

mechanically preventing said panels from being connected unless light emitting surfaces of both display panels face in the same direction.