Portable large scale image display system

• US 5,900,850 A
• Filed: 08/28/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Temple
• Original Assignee: James Tam Bailey, Phillip L. Scheldt
• Inventors: Scheldt, Phillip L., Bailey, James Tam
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US08/704,021
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345/46, 345/55, 345/56, 345/57, 345/82, 345/83, 40/427, 40/437, 40/438, 40/446, 40/605, 40/606, 40/610, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.81, 340/815.82, 340/815.83, 340/815.92, 361/681
• US Class Current: 345/55
• 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: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions

Abstract

A large scale, portable light emitting diode image display system including one or more display panels comprising a web or netlike structure, preferably formed of interconnected flexible foldable strap members arranged in plural vertical columns and horizontal rows. Light emitting diode light sources are mounted on the column straps at predetermined spaced apart points to form a matrix for projecting multi-color images. Each panel includes fasteners at opposite ends of horizontal straps for connecting the panels to each other and each panel includes connectors at opposite ends of the vertical straps for connecting the panels to each other and to a support structure for erecting the display system as a stage backdrop, billboard or other image display arrangement. Each panel may include one or more power supply units and control circuits mounted in enclosures supported by the panels and connected to a master control unit for controlling the light sources to project multicolored stationary or animated images, video images or alphanumeric text images.

Claims

1. A large scale, portable, image display system comprising:

a plurality of flexible panels interconnected with each other to form an image display area, each of said panels comprising a web structure formed of plural spaced apart, flexible strap members extending vertically from one edge of said panel to the other and plural, spaced apart, generally horizontally extending flexible strap members connected to said vertically extending strap members;

a plurality of light emitting diode light sources mounted on selected ones of said strap members at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon to form a matrix of light sources for projecting an image from said display system;

means for connecting said panels to each other; and

means for connecting said panels to support means for said display system for supporting said display system in a working position of said light sources, respectively.

2. A portable image display system comprising:

a plurality of flexible panels interconnected with each other to form an image display area, each of said panels comprising a generally rectangular web formed of flexible, foldable material and providing support means for a plurality of light emitting diode light sources mounted on said panel at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon to form a matrix of light sources for projecting an image from said display system;

fastener means disposed at opposed vertical edges of said panels for connecting said panels to each other;

connector means disposed at opposed horizontal edges of said panels for connecting said panels to each other and to a generally horizontally extending support member; and

tensioning means connected to at least one horizontal edge of said panels, respectively, for connecting said panels to a support structure for securing said panels in a generally tensioned planar array for projecting images from said display area.

3. The display system set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said support means for said panels comprise at least one elongated beam member operable to be disposed on a surface below said display system and connected to said tensioning means, respectively, for tensioning said panels of said display system, said beam member defining an enclosure for receiving said panels in a folded condition thereof, respectively, for storage and transport of said display system.

4. An image display system comprising:

at least one panel comprising a web of flexible support members including a first set of flexible support members extending in one direction and a second set of flexible support members extending in another direction, said first and second sets of support members are interconnected with each other at respective positions wherein respective ones of said support members of said first set are contiguous with respective ones of said support members of said second set; and

a plurality of light sources supported on said support members of at least one set at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon, said light sources being adapted to be connected to a control circuit for energizing said light sources to generate a visual image by said display system.

5. The display system set forth in claim 4 wherein:

the support members of said first set are arranged in substantially vertical columns and the support members of said second set extend substantially horizontally in spaced apart rows and interconnect the support members of said first set.

6. The display system set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said light sources each include a housing mounted on the support members of the first set at spaced apart points therealong to form a matrix of light sources of plural rows and columns of said light sources, respectively.

7. The display system set forth in claim 6 wherein:

selected ones of said light sources include lens means mountable on said housings of said selected light sources for at least one of focusing and filtering light emitted by said light sources, respectively.

8. A The display system set forth in claim 6 including:

conductor means extending between each of said light sources and a control circuit mounted on said panel, said conductor means being trained along said support members between said light sources and said control circuit.

9. The display system set forth in claim 8 including:

at least one power supply unit supported on said panel and operably connected to said control circuit for supplying electrical power to said control circuit and said light sources, respectively.

10. The display system set forth in claim 8 including:

spaced apart retaining means mounted on said support members for retaining said conductor means in predetermined positions on said such support members between said light sources and said control circuit.

11. An image display system comprising:

plural panels connected to each other, each of said panels comprising a web of flexible support members including a first set of flexible support members extending in one direction and a second set of flexible support members extending in another direction, each of said panels including a plurality of light sources supported on said support members of at least one set at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon, said light sources being adapted to be connected to a control circuit for energizing said light sources to generate a visual image by said display system, and each of said panels including connector means for connecting one panel to an adjacent panel to form a substantially planar, large scale image display.

12. The display system set forth in claim 11 wherein:

selected ones of said support members are connected to tensioning means for securing at least one edge of said display system to support means therefor.

13. An image display system comprising:

at least one panel comprising a web of flexible support members including a first set of flexible support members extending in one direction and a second set of flexible support members extending in another direction;

a plurality of light sources supported on said support members of at least one set at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon, said light sources being adapted to be connected to a control circuit for energizing said light sources to generate a visual image by said display system;

support means for at least one generally horizontal edge of said panel comprising an elongated beam; and

tensioning means connected to said beam and to respective ones of said support members of said panel for tensioning said support members when said display system is erected in a working position.

14. The display system set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said beam comprises means providing an enclosure for storing said at least one panel in a folded condition for transport or storage.

15. An image display system comprising:

at least one panel comprising a web of flexible support members including a first set of flexible, elongated straps extending in one direction and a second set of flexible, elongated straps extending in another direction, said straps of said first set intersecting said straps of said second set, respectively, and said straps of said first and second sets being secured to each other at their respective points of intersection to form said web; and

a plurality of light sources supported on said straps of at least one set at predetermined spaced apart positions thereon said light sources being adapted to be connected to a control circuit for energizing said light sources selectively to generate a visual image by said display system.

16. The display system set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said light sources comprise light emitting diodes, respectively.

17. The display system set forth in claim 16 wherein:

each of said light sources comprises plural ones of said light emitting diodes, respective ones of said light emitting diodes being operable to emit light of different colors.

18. The display system set forth in claim 16 wherein:

each of said light sources comprises a housing and means for connecting said housing to one of said support members at a predetermined position on said one support member, and plural light emitting diodes are mounted in said housing and positioned to project light in a predetermined direction from said housing.