Flexible pixel hardware and method

• US 8,106,923 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daktronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daktronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Mittan, Thomas R., Wendler, Brett David, Gloege, Chad Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): AMINI, JAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/031,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/531, 345/205
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• 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 3/06 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/12 using electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2085 Special arrangements for addressing the individual elements of the matrix, other than by driving respective rows and columns in combination
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A graphical display station of arbitrary shape such as channel letters or other shaped structures is populated with pixels which are components of flexible pixel strings which can be arranged to fit the arbitrary shape(s). The flexible pixel strings provide for straightforward and cost effective fabrication of channel letter or other shaped displays. The invention also includes pixel units which comprise lighting elements together with such control circuits as are needed to properly drive the lighting elements to form a graphical image. Addressing of the particular pixels is provided to accommodate the arbitrary arrangement of pixels of the flexible pixel strings. Methods of fabricating a channel letter display are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A graphical display assembly, comprising:

a plurality of flexible pixel strings, each flexible pixel string including a plurality of pixel units connected by a flexible connection, the flexible connection including a data connection configured to pass graphical image data to and from one or more of the pixel units;

wherein the plurality of flexible pixel strings are arranged so that the plurality of pixel units define an arbitrary shaped display; and

wherein each of the pixel units is assigned an individual address comprised of a first unique designation corresponding to the flexible pixel string wherein the pixel unit is located and a second unique designation corresponding to a position of the pixel unit along the flexible pixel string;

a software module configured to map the graphical image data onto the individually addressed pixel units in order to create a desired graphical image; and

a display controller operable to pass the graphical image data through the flexible pixel strings via the flexible connections such that every pixel unit in every flexible pixel string receives individually addressed graphical image data.

2. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein a periphery of the arbitrary shaped display is defined by a flexible pixel string adjacent a void region having no pixels.

3. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein the arbitrary shaped display is configured to present multicolor, moving images.

4. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein the arbitrary shaped display is non-rectangular.

5. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein the pixel units are serially connected.

6. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein each pixel unit includes at least one lighting element oriented to transmit light in a direction perpendicular to the viewing surface of the graphical display.

7. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein each pixel unit includes a separate control circuit.

8. The graphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein each pixel unit includes at least one drive circuit.

9. The graphical display assembly of claim 6, wherein the lighting elements include at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

10. A method of fabricating an arbitrary shape graphical display, comprising the steps of:

providing one or more flexible pixel strings having a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of flexible connections which pass graphical image data to the pixel units;

positioning the pixel units of at least one flexible pixel string into a non-grid-like pattern to define an arbitrary shaped display;

addressing the plurality of pixel units of the one or more flexible pixel strings, including;

defining a pixel array of at least two dimensions, with one dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel string, and with another dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel unit within the pixel string; and

using the pixel array to address each individual pixel unit in the display;

providing a software module for mapping the graphical image data onto the individually addressed pixel units in order to create a desired graphical image; and

providing a display controller for passing the graphical image data through the one or more flexible pixel strings via the flexible connections such that every pixel unit in every flexible pixel string receives individually addressed graphical image data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a periphery of the arbitrary shaped display is defined by a flexible pixel string adjacent a void region having no pixels.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising orientating at least one lighting element of each pixel unit to transmit light in a direction perpendicular to the viewing surface of the graphical display.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising positioning one or more filling pixel units within a confined spaced of at least one channel letter, the one or more filling pixel units configured to provide a moving or non-moving graphical image.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising individually controlling a selected pixel unit.

15. A method of addressing pixels in a display having a plurality of pixel strings of arbitrary shape configuration comprising:

defining an array of at least two dimensions, with one dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel string, and with another dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel within the pixel string;

using the array to individually address each pixel in the display;

using a software module for mapping graphical image data onto the individually addressed pixels in order to create a desired graphical image on the display; and

using a display controller for passing the graphical image data through the plurality of pixel strings via flexible connections such that every pixel in every pixel string receives individually addressed graphical image data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pixels within a pixel string are serially connected.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each pixel string includes a flexible pixel string arranged in an arbitrary shape configuration.