Flexible pixel hardware and method
First Claim
1. A graphical display assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of flexible pixel strings, each flexible pixel string including;
a plurality of pixel units each including an array of lighting elements, each lighting element assigned an individual address corresponding to a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit, on which the lighting element is located, and a position of the lighting element on the pixel unit; and
one or more flexible connections connecting the plurality of pixel units, the one or more flexible connections including a data connection configured to pass graphical image data to and from one or more of the pixel units;
a software module configured to map the graphical image data onto the individually addressed lighting elements 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 one or more flexible connections such that the lighting elements in the pixel units receive individually addressed graphical image data.
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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 roperly 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A graphical display assembly, comprising:
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a plurality of flexible pixel strings, each flexible pixel string including; a plurality of pixel units each including an array of lighting elements, each lighting element assigned an individual address corresponding to a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit, on which the lighting element is located, and a position of the lighting element on the pixel unit; and one or more flexible connections connecting the plurality of pixel units, the one or more flexible connections including a data connection configured to pass graphical image data to and from one or more of the pixel units; a software module configured to map the graphical image data onto the individually addressed lighting elements 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 one or more flexible connections such that the lighting elements in the pixel units receive individually addressed graphical image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of fabricating a graphical display, the method comprising:
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providing or receiving a plurality of pixel units each including an array of lighting elements; connecting the plurality of pixel units with one or more flexible connections to form one or more flexible pixel strings; providing or receiving a software module for mapping graphical image data onto individually addressed lighting elements, each address associated with a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit on which each lighting element is located and a position of the lighting element on the pixel unit, in order to create a desired graphical image; and providing or receiving a display controller for passing the graphical image data through the one or more flexible pixel strings via the one or more flexible connections such that the lighting elements in the flexible pixel strings receive individually addressed graphical image data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a display, the method comprising:
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individually addressing a location of each lighting element of a plurality of lighting elements included in each of a plurality of pixel units of one or more flexible pixel strings, including associating each address with a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit, on which each lighting element is located, and a position of the lighting element on the pixel unit; mapping graphical image data onto the individually addressed lighting elements; and transmitting the graphical image data through the one or more flexible pixel strings to each of the individually addressed lighting elements such that the lighting elements in the flexible pixel strings receive individually addressed graphical image data to create a desired graphical image. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification