Smart light emitting diode cluster and system

• US 6,208,073 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Opto Tech Corporation (OptoTech Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Opto Tech Corporation (OptoTech Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Hung-Tung, Hsiao, Chun-Fang, Yen, Chih-Yuan, Chuang, Fang-Shih, Chen, Shun-Chih, Hung, Chien-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Day, Michael H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPPER, TODD R
• Application Number:
  US09/153,113
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 313/500, 313/51, 257/88, 362/800, 340/782, 345/84, 345/39, 345/40, 345/44, 345/46, 315/185.R, 315/361
• US Class Current: 313/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• 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 9/33 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A smart light emitting diode cluster and system includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of LED cluster strings, each comprising a plurality of LED cluster connected in series. Each LED cluster includes an LED drive circuit and a plurality of LEDs. The CPU receives external input image signal, and then desired control signal and image data are sent to the LED cluster strings by appropriate processing. The control signal is used to switch the LEDs in the cluster to generate desired image and related color variation. The control signal and image data are transferred to the next LED cluster by the present LED drive circuit. In this manner, the control signal and image data are progressively transferred from the first to the last cluster so that a whole image with color variation can be displayed by all the LEDs in the system.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) cluster, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of LEDs located on said base;

a control circuit board located under said base; and

an outer case enclosing said base, said LEDs, and said control circuit board, and filled with suitable filler as effective insulator to protect said control circuit board and related connecting wires;

wherein an external input signal is transmitted to said plurality of LEDs through said base by conductive wires, and said control circuit board drives said plurality of LEDs by transmitting a resultant signal obtained from appropriate decision and process for received data through said conductive wires, said appropriate decision determining that said received data are transmitted or held.

2. A light emitting diode cluster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suitable filler is epoxy resin, silicone rubber, or other water-proof material.

3. A light emitting diode cluster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said LEDs are typical LEDs, chip LEDs, or chip LEDs directly fixed on a circuit board.

4. A light emitting diode cluster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said appropriate process for said received data is to transform said external input signal into an LED driving signal to drive said plurality of LEDs.

5. A light emitting diode cluster system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU); and

a plurality of LED cluster strings being connected in parallel to said CPU and receiving control signal and data from said CPU, each LED cluster string having a plurality of LED clusters connected in series;

wherein each LED cluster comprises;

a base;

a plurality of LEDs located on said base and arranged in several groups each having various number of LEDs and a specific color;

a control circuit board located under said base; and

an outer case enclosing said base, said LEDs, and said control circuit board, and filled with suitable filler as effective insulator to protect said control circuit board and related connecting wires;

wherein an external input signal is transmitted to said plurality of LEDs through said base by conductive wires.

6. A light emitting diode cluster system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said suitable filler is epoxy resin, silicone rubber, or other water-proof material.

7. A light emitting diode cluster as claimed in claim 5, wherein said LEDs are typical LEDs, chip LEDs, or chip LEDs directly fixed on a circuit board.

8. A light emitting diode cluster system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control circuit board drives said plurality of LEDs by transmitting a resultant signal to a corresponding control circuit board in a next cluster, said resultant signal being obtained from appropriate decision and process for received data through said conductive wires.

9. A light emitting diode cluster system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said appropriate decision for said received data is to determine that said received data are transmitted or held.

10. A light emitting diode cluster system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said appropriate process for said received data is to transform said external input signal into an LED driving signal to drive said plurality of LEDs.