Modular multi-panel display system using integrated data and power cables

• US 9,372,659 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, William Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/981,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.04, 361/679.05, 361/679.06, 36167921-6793, 3122231-2233, 248917-924
• 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 PCB heatsink inserted in the PCB H05K2201/10416
• 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: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A modular multi-panel display system includes a mechanical support structure and a number of display panels mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display panel. A number of integrated data and power cables electrically the display panels to one another. The display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning, fans, or heating units.

Claims

1. 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; and

a plurality of integrated data and power cables electrically coupling ones of the display panels;

wherein each of the display panel comprises;

a plurality of display elements;

image control circuitry coupled to the display elements;

power supply circuitry coupled to the display elements;

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

wherein each of the integrated data and power cables comprises;

a plurality of data wires electrically coupled to the image control circuitry;

a plurality of power wires electrically coupled to the power supply circuitry;

a plurality of data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each data connector electrically coupled to a corresponding data wire, wherein each of the data connectors is fitted with an opposite type of data connectors of an integrated data and power connector of an adjacent display panel of the plurality of display panels; and

a plurality of power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each power connector electrically coupled to a corresponding power wire, wherein each of the power connectors is fitted with an opposite type of power connectors of the integrated data and power connector of the adjacent display panel, wherein the power connectors are coupled to input/output (IO) ports of the power supply circuitry.

2. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuitry includes an alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) converter and wherein the plurality of power connectors comprises three pins for carrying AC power to the power supply circuitry.

3. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, 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 and wherein a potting compound covers the LED board.

4. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuitry is disposed within a water tight power enclosure mounted to an outer surface of the housing.

5. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, further comprising, for each display panel, a sealing cover disposed around the data connectors and the power connectors of the integrated data and power cable associated with that display panel.

6. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the display panels are arranged in an array of rows and columns, and wherein each display panel of each row is electrically connected to an adjacent display panel within that row via an integrated data and power cable.

7. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 6, wherein each display panel of each row is electrically connected to an adjacent display panel within that row via an input integrated data and power cable that is coupled to an output integrated data and power cable;

wherein the output integrated data and power cable extends through a wall of the housing of a display panel in the row and the input integrated data and power cable extends through a wall of the housing and an other display panel in the row, the display panel being adjacent the other display panel; and

wherein power connectors of the output integrated data and power cable are connected with power connectors of the input integrated data and power cable and data connectors of the output integrated data and power cable are connected with data connectors of the input integrated data and power cable.

8. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 7, 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;

and

wherein the power connectors of the input integrated data and power connector comprise female/male type of connectors and the power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector comprise male/female type of connectors.

9. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the end enclosure of the integrated data and power connector has a circular cross-section and wherein the power connectors are all located along an inner edge of the end enclosure.

10. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 9, wherein the power connectors are located along an arc the inner edge of the end enclosure, the arc extending between 30°

and 160°

of an entire circumference of the inner edge; and

wherein ones of the data connectors are located along the inner edge of the end enclosure and remaining ones of the data connectors are spaced from the inner edge by the power connectors and the ones of the data connectors located along the inner edge of the end enclosure.

11. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the power connectors comprise power pins and wherein the data connectors comprise data sockets or wherein the power connectors comprise power sockets and wherein the data connectors comprise data pins.

12. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the integrated data and power cable comprises a first type of alignment feature that is aligned with a second type of alignment feature of the integrated data and power connector of the adjacent display panel.

13. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein each data wire has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of each of the plurality of power wires.

14. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning, fans, or heating units.

15. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 1, wherein the display system includes no air conditioning, fans, or heating units.

16. 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 each of the display panel comprises;

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 fitted with an opposite type of data connectors of another integrated data and power connector of a first adjacent display panel of the plurality of display panels, wherein the data connectors are coupled to data ports of the image control circuitry;

power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors fitted with an opposite type of power connectors of the another integrated data and power connector of the first adjacent display panel, wherein the power connectors are coupled to input/output (IO) ports of the power supply circuitry; and

a sealing cover disposed around the data connectors and the power connectors.

17. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 16, 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, wherein each of the data connectors of the output integrated data and power connector is fitted with an opposite type of data connectors of a second adjacent display panel of the plurality of display panels, wherein the data connectors of the output integrated data and power connector are coupled to the data ports of the image control circuitry;

power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors fitted with an opposite type of power connectors of the second adjacent display panel, wherein the power connectors are coupled to the I/O ports of the power supply circuitry; and

a sealing cover disposed around the data and the power connectors of the output integrated data and power connector.

18. The modular multi-panel display system of claim 16, 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.

19. A method of assembling a modular multi-panel display, the method comprising:

assembling a mechanical support structure;

attaching a plurality of display panels directly to the mechanical support structure using a plurality of coupling mechanisms, wherein the plurality of display panels is arranged so as to form an integrated display, wherein each display panel is configured to receive AC power, wherein each display panel comprises a AC-DC power converter mounted separately on a back side of the display panel, the AC-DC power converter configured to generate a DC power supply from AC power for the respective display panel, wherein each of the display panel includes circuitry configured to aid in regulating a reception and a transmission of media data to be displayed by the plurality of display panels; and

electrically connecting AC power and media data to each of the plurality of display panels using an integrated data and power cable between adjacent ones of the display panels, wherein each integrated data and power cable comprises;

a plurality of data wires electrically coupled to image control circuitry of an associated display panel;

a plurality of power wires electrically coupled to power supply circuitry of the associated display panel;

a plurality of data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each data connector electrically coupled to a corresponding data wire, wherein each of the data connectors is fitted with an opposite type of data connectors of an integrated data and power connector of an adjacent display panel of the plurality of display panels; and

a plurality of power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each power connector electrically coupled to a corresponding power wire, wherein each of the power connectors is fitted with an opposite type of power connectors of the integrated data and power connector of the adjacent display panel, wherein the power connectors are coupled to input/output (IO) ports of the power supply circuitry.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving media packets comprising the media data to be displayed from a control box located at a remote location using a network connection; and

displaying the media data on the integrated display.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the media packets from the control box located at the remote location comprises using a wireless connection.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining color, brightness, and refresh time for each light emitting unit of each of the display panel.