Integrated data and power cord for use with modular display panels

• US 9,226,413 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, William Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Application Number:
  US14/829,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 133 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728, 361/730, 361/807, 361/809, 361/810, 345/213, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3023 Segmented electronic displays
• 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 2300/04 : Structural and physical details of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/029 : by monitoring one or more pixels in the display panel, e.g. by monitoring a fixed reference pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 : Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/045 : Protection against panel overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/10 : Dealing with defective pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 : Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 : Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 : semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 : Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/02 : Cables with twisted pairs or quads
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/2825 : using a water impermeable sheath
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/003 : including electrical control or communication wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/00 : Television systems details H04N3/00, H04N5/00; methods or arrangements, for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00; selective content distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 : associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/066 : Heatsink mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 : Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 : Display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1028 : Thin metal strips as connectors or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/32 : electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 : of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 : Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 : Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 : Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20127 : Natural convection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20136 : Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans H05K7/202 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 : characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20954 : for display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20963 : Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20972 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Integrated Data and Power Cord for use with Modular Display Panels In one embodiment, a display panel includes a plurality of display elements, and image control circuitry coupled to the display elements. A power supply circuitry is coupled to the display elements. A housing encloses the display elements and the image control circuitry. The housing is sealed with respect to external elements. A first integrated data and power cable extends from outside the housing, through a housing wall and electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power circuitry. A second integrated data and power cable extends from outside the housing, through the housing wall and electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power circuitry.

Claims

1. A display panel comprising:

a plurality of display elements;

image control circuitry coupled to the display elements;

power supply circuitry coupled to the display elements, the power supply circuitry including an alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) converter;

a housing enclosing the display elements and the image control circuitry, the housing being sealed to be waterproof; and

a first integrated data and power connector comprising;

a plurality of male connectors surrounded by an end enclosure and accessible outside the first integrated data and power connector, each male connector of the plurality of male connectors configured to fit into a female connector, wherein the plurality of male connectors comprises three pins for carrying AC power to the power supply circuitry, and

a plurality of female connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each female connector of the plurality of female connectors configured to receive a pin, wherein the plurality of female connectors are configured to carry data to the image control circuitry, wherein the first integrated data and power connector is configured to be waterproof when connected to another connector.

2. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a second integrated data and power connector electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power supply circuitry, wherein the second integrated data and power connector comprises three power pins for carrying AC power to an adjacent panel.

3. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of male connectors are located along an arc of an inner edge of the end enclosure, the arc extending between 30°

and 160°

of an entire circumference of the inner edge.

4. The display panel of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of female connectors is located along an inner edge of the end enclosure, wherein one or more of the plurality of female connectors is spaced from the inner edge by the plurality of female connectors located along the inner edge of the end enclosure.

5. A display panel comprising:

a plurality of display elements;

image control circuitry coupled to the display elements;

power supply circuitry coupled to the display elements, the power supply circuitry including an alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) converter;

a housing enclosing the display elements and the image control circuitry, the housing being sealed to be waterproof; and

an input integrated data and power connector comprising

data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each of the data connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of data connectors of another integrated data and power connector, wherein the data connectors are configured to carry data to the image control circuitry;

power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of power connectors of the another integrated data and power connector, wherein the power connectors are configured to carry AC power to the power supply circuitry; and

a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the input integrated data and power connector.

6. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the power connectors comprise power pins and wherein the data connectors comprise data sockets.

7. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the plurality of display elements comprise LEDs attached to an LED board, wherein a display surface of each of the LEDs is exposed outside the housing.

8. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the plurality of display elements comprise LEDs attached to an LED board, wherein a display surface of each of the LEDs is covered with potting compound outside the housing.

9. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the power supply circuitry is disposed within a water tight power enclosure mounted to an outer surface of the housing.

10. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the end enclosure of the input integrated data and power connector has a circular cross-section.

11. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the power connectors are all located around one edge of the input integrated data and power connector.

12. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector are asymmetrically located with respect to the data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector.

13. The display panel of claim 5, further comprising:

an output integrated data and power connector electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power supply circuitry, wherein the output integrated data and power connector comprises

data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each of the data connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of data connectors, wherein the data connectors are configured to carry data to the image control circuitry;

power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of power connectors, wherein the power connectors are configured to carry AC power to the power supply circuitry; and

a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the output integrated data and power connector.

14. The display panel of claim 13, wherein the input integrated data and power connector comprise a first type of alignment feature and the output integrated data and power connector comprise a second type of alignment feature, and wherein the first type of alignment feature is configured to align with the second type of alignment feature.

15. The display panel of claim 13, wherein the data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors and the data connectors of the output integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors opposite to the male/female type of connectors.

16. The display panel of claim 13, wherein the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors and the power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors opposite to the male/female type of connectors.

17. The display panel of claim 13, further comprising:

a first integrated data and power cable coupled to the input integrated data and power cable connector; and

a second integrated data and power cable coupled to the output integrated data and power cable connector, wherein the first and second integrated data and power cables each further comprise a plurality of data wires and a plurality of power wires, each data wire having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of each of the plurality of power wires.

18. A modular multi-panel display system comprising:

a mechanical support structure; and

a plurality of display panels mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display panel;

wherein ones of the display panels each include a first integrated data and power connector electrically connected to a cable connector coupled to a first adjacent display panel, wherein the first integrated data and power connector is configured to receive data and alternating current (AC) power from the first adjacent display panel, wherein the first integrated data and power connector comprises at least one power connector configured to provide AC voltage to the respective display panel, and wherein each of the plurality of display panels comprises a power supply circuitry for converting the received AC to direct current (DC); and

wherein the ones of the display panels each also include a second integrated data and power connector configured to be connected to a connector coupled to a second adjacent display panel to provide data and AC power to the second adjacent display panel.

19. A modular multi-panel display system comprising:

a mechanical support structure;

a plurality of display panels mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display panel;

wherein ones of the display panels each include a input integrated data and power connector electrically connected to a output integrated data and power connector of a first adjacent display panel to receive data and alternating current (AC) power from the first adjacent display panel;

wherein the ones of the display panels each also include an output integrated data and power connector electrically connected to an input integrated data and power connector of a second adjacent display panel to provide data and AC power to the second adjacent display panel;

a plurality of data wires;

a plurality of power wires; and

wherein the input integrated data and power connector comprises

data connectors for receiving/transmitting data, the data connectors electrically coupled with data connectors of the output integrated data and power connector of the first adjacent display panel,

power connectors for receiving/transmitting power, the power connectors electrically coupled with power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector of the first adjacent display panel, and

a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the input integrated data and power connector.

20. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors and the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors opposite to the male/female type of connectors.

21. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of data wires and the plurality of power wires are part of an integrated cable.

22. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the sealing cover is disposed over and around the data and the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector.

23. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the output integrated data and power connector comprises

data connectors for receiving/transmitting data, the data connectors electrically coupled with data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector of the second adjacent display panel;

power connectors for receiving/transmitting power, the power connectors electrically coupled with power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector of the second adjacent display panel; and

a sealing cover over the data and the power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector and configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the output integrated data and power connector.

24. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 23, wherein the data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors and the data connectors of the output integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors opposite to the male/female type of connectors.

25. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 23, wherein the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors and the power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors opposite to the male/female type of connectors.

26. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the power connectors are all located around one edge of the input integrated data and power connector.

27. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector are asymmetrically located with respect to the data connectors of the input integrated data and power connector.

28. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the input integrated data and power connector comprise a first type of alignment feature and the output integrated data and power connector comprise a second type of alignment feature, and wherein the first type of alignment feature is configured to align with the second type of alignment feature.

29. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the display panels are arranged in an array of rows and columns, each display panel of each row being electrically connected to an adjacent display panel within that row via an integrated data and power cable.

30. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 19, wherein the display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning, fans, or heating units.