Digital dasher boards for sports arenas
First Claim
1. An LED illuminated hockey rink dasher board display assembly comprising:
- a thin display panel member having a white front surface and a rear surface, said panel member having a plurality of spaced apertures in a matrix configuration therein to accommodate LEDs;
an outer frame support for said panel member, said frame being rectangular in shape and protruding away from the front surface of said panel member;
a rigid transparent sheet contiguous with a front surface of said outer frame;
wherein said panel member, said outer frame support and said rigid transparent sheet are sized and structured to function as a hockey-rink dasher board, and a circuit board assembly having printed circuitry on at least one surface thereof and LED receptacles for said LEDs, said LED receptacles numbered and grouped in a matrix configuration to be at the same spacing as the apertures in said panel member so that said LEDs provided in said receptacles are in register and protrude through said panel member apertures whenever said circuit board is in a proximate position to said rear surface of said panel member, said LEDs being sufficient in number in said matrix configuration to provide an illuminated display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for integrating an illuminated sign system with a dasher board in a hockey rink. The illuminated sign system includes an outer frame with an impact resistant transparent sheet secured to a front surface of the outer frame. The sign system includes a display panel member having a white front surface and a plurality of apertures therein. The display panel member includes a circuit board assembly having a plurality of LED trios positioned proximate the rear surface of the display panel member so that LED trios register and protrude through a corresponding aperture in the display panel member. The illuminated sign system includes a power supply and a controller for controlling the power supplied to specific LEDs in each of the LED trios. In addition, the controller controls the intensity emitted by the LEDs to thereby manipulate the color contrast with the white front surface of the display panel member. The illuminated sign system also includes shock absorbers for absorbing the impact of hockey play to the outer frame and the transparent sheet.
28 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An LED illuminated hockey rink dasher board display assembly comprising:
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a thin display panel member having a white front surface and a rear surface, said panel member having a plurality of spaced apertures in a matrix configuration therein to accommodate LEDs;
an outer frame support for said panel member, said frame being rectangular in shape and protruding away from the front surface of said panel member;
a rigid transparent sheet contiguous with a front surface of said outer frame;
wherein said panel member, said outer frame support and said rigid transparent sheet are sized and structured to function as a hockey-rink dasher board, anda circuit board assembly having printed circuitry on at least one surface thereof and LED receptacles for said LEDs, said LED receptacles numbered and grouped in a matrix configuration to be at the same spacing as the apertures in said panel member so that said LEDs provided in said receptacles are in register and protrude through said panel member apertures whenever said circuit board is in a proximate position to said rear surface of said panel member, said LEDs being sufficient in number in said matrix configuration to provide an illuminated display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing a digital dasher board display, the method comprising:
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providing an outer frame support having a rectangular shape said frame support sized and structured to be the size of a hockey rink dasher board;
providing a rigid transparent sheet to be contiguous with a front surface of said outer frame;
forming a thin display panel member with a plurality of apertures therein and having a white front surface and a rear surface, configuring said plurality of apertures to accommodate LEDs and spacing said plurality of apertures in horizontal rows and vertical columns to form a matrix;
supporting said panel member on said outer frame support with at least one shock absorber therebetween;
forming a circuit board assembly having receptacles for said LEDs on a front side thereof and spacing said receptacles to correspond with said apertures in said panel member; and
securing said circuit board assembly on said rear surface of said panel member so that said LEDs register and protrude through said apertures of said panel member.
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24. A method of increasing visibility of a dynamic image display system, the method comprising:
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providing a thin display panel member having a white front surface and a plurality of apertures therein, configuring said plurality of apertures to accommodate LEDs and spacing said plurality of apertures in horizontal rows and vertical columns to form a matrix;
forming a circuit board assembly having receptacles for said LEDs on a front side thereof and spacing said receptacles to correspond with said apertures in said panel member;
securing said circuit board assembly on a rear surface of said panel member so that said LEDs register and protrude through said apertures of said panel member; and
illuminating said LEDs with a power source and a controller; and
controlling an intensity illuminated from said LEDs. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification