Modular display and controller

• US 9,495,768 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Elliott
• Original Assignee: Robert Elliott
• Inventors: Elliott, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US14/667,209
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/06 by aeroplanes, airships, balloons, or kites
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• 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 2352/00 Parallel handling of streams of display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/08 Details of image data interface between the display device controller and the data line driver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/343 for systems having a character code-mapped display memory

Abstract

A modular display and controller for providing information from user configurable display comprising a series of interconnected display modules. Users are able to physically attach and electrically attach arrayed rows of lighting elements together to form a variety of shaped signs for the display of scrolling information.

Claims

1. A system for displaying information, comprising:

an input device for providing textual data;

a controller for converting the textual data into commands;

a first display, having;

a plurality of lighting elements arranged into rows;

a first data socket located on a first edge;

a second data socket located on a second edge; and

a coupling located on each edge of the first display; and

a second display, having;

a plurality of lighting elements arranged into rows;

a first data socket located on a first edge;

a second data socket located on a second edge; and

a coupling located on each edge of the second display;

wherein the first display and the second display are attached together by connecting the coupling on the first display to the coupling on the second display.

2. The system according to claim 1, the further comprising:

a wireless system connecting the input device to the controller.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless system is Bluetooth based.

4. The system according to claim 1, the plurality of lighting elements comprising:

light emitting diodes;

wherein the light emitting diodes are replaceable.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

mounting adapter for mounting the first display and the second display to a drone.

6. A modular sign for displaying information, comprising:

an input device, configured for converting spoken words into ASCII characters;

a controller, configured for converting the ASCII characters into a pattern;

a first modular display for illuminating the pattern;

a second modular display for illuminating the pattern;

a third modular display;

wherein the first modular display is coupled adjacent the second modular display;

wherein the second modular display is coupled adjacent the third modular display;

wherein the pattern scrolls linearly along the first modular display, the second modular display and the third modular display.

7. The modular sign according to claim 6, wherein the first modular display and the second modular display are arranged into a flat loop.

8. The modular sign according to claim 6, wherein the input device is a smart phone.

9. The modular sign according to claim 6, wherein the first modular display is curved.

10. The modular sign according to claim 6, wherein the first modular display comprises:

a shift register;

a voltage regulator; and

an array of light emitting diodes arranged into rows and columns.

11. The modular sign according to claim 6, the input device comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

the controller comprising;

a wireless receiver;

wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the input device.

12. The modular sign according to claim 6, wherein the controller comprises:

a sensor for adjusting the brightness of the display.

13. A modular system for displaying textual information to a user, comprising:

a first display, having;

a shift register;

a voltage regulator; and

an array of lighting elements arranged into rows and columns;

a second display, having;

a shift register;

a voltage regulator; and

an array of lighting elements arranged into rows and columns; and

a controller for supplying serial data to the first display and the second display;

wherein each edge of each display comprises half a coupling;

wherein the half coupling of the first display is connected to the half coupling of the second display to form a linear multi-paneled display;

wherein the first display and the second display contain an equal number of rows; and

wherein the serial data drives the first display and the second display;

wherein the textual information scrolls across the first display and then scrolls across the second display.

14. The modular system for displaying textual information to a user according to claim 13, further comprising:

an input device in wireless communication with the controller;

wherein the controller receives commands from the input device.

15. The modular system for displaying textual information to a user according to claim 13, wherein a speed at which the textual information is scrolled is adjustable.