Modular display panel

• US 9,916,782 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• 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): JUNGE, KRISTINA N S
• Application Number:
  US15/369,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention relate to integrated modular display panels. In one embodiment, modular display panel includes a shell with a first thermally conductive material, a printed circuit board disposed in the shell, and a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board. A driver circuit is disposed in the shell and coupled to the plurality of LEDs from a second side of the printed circuit board. The panel further includes a power supply unit for powering the LEDs. The printed circuit board are disposed between the power supply unit and the plurality of LEDs. A second thermally conductive material is disposed between the power supply unit and an outer back side of the panel. A protective structure is disposed over the first side of the printed circuit board, where a display side of the panel, opposite the outer back side, is waterproof.

Claims

1. A modular display panel comprising:

a shell comprising a first thermally conductive material, wherein sidewalls of the shell comprise plastic;

a printed circuit board disposed in the shell;

a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board;

a driver circuit disposed in the shell and coupled to the plurality of LEDs from a second side of the printed circuit board;

a power supply unit for powering the LEDs, the printed circuit board being disposed between the power supply unit and the plurality of LEDs;

a second thermally conductive material disposed between the power supply unit and an outer back side of the panel; and

a protective structure disposed over the first side of the printed circuit board, wherein the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof.

2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive material and the second thermally conductive material are the same material.

3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive material and the second thermally conductive material are different materials.

4. The panel of claim 1, wherein the protective structure comprises a potting material overlying the printed circuit board.

5. The panel of claim 1, wherein the protective structure comprises louvers for deflecting water from the printed circuit board.

6. The panel of claim 1, wherein the modular display panel comprises an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP 65, IP 66, IP 67, or IP 68.

7. The panel of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive material comprises a metal.

8. The panel of claim 7, wherein the metal comprises aluminum.

9. The panel of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive material comprises plastic.

10. The panel of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises a power converter for converting ac power to dc power.

11. The panel of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises a down converter that down converts a dc voltage at a first level to a dc voltage at a second level that is lower than the first level.

12. The panel of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises attachment points for use in attachment as part of a multi-panel modular display.

13. The panel of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is disposed in a Faraday cage.

14. The panel of claim 1, wherein a housing of the power supply unit comprises plastic, and wherein the power supply unit protrudes from the outer back side of the panel opposite a display side of the panel.

15. The panel of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises fins for extracting heat from the power supply unit.

16. The panel of claim 1, wherein the panel has a height and a width, and wherein a ratio of the height to the width is 1:

1 or 1;

2.

17. A modular multi-panel display system comprising a mechanical support structure configured to support a plurality of sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly comprising a plurality of LED display panels so as to form an integrated display panel, wherein the integrated display panel includes a display surface that is greater than 1 feet in one dimension and 2 feet in a perpendicular dimension,

wherein each LED display panel comprises:

a housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing;

a plurality of LEDs attached to the printed circuit board; and

a driver circuit disposed in the housing and coupled to the printed circuit board,

wherein each sub-assembly comprises a data receiver box comprising a power supply unit for powering the respective plurality of LED display panels of each sub-assembly, the data receiver box being mounted outside the housing,

wherein each LED display panel is sealed to be waterproof, and

wherein each of the plurality of sub-assemblies comprises an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP 67 or IP 68.

18. The display system of claim 17, wherein the mechanical support structure comprises a metal.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein the metal comprises aluminum.

20. The display system of claim 17, wherein each LED display panel further comprises fins disposed over the printed circuit board, the fins configured to protect the plurality of LEDs from water.

21. The display system of claim 17, wherein the power supply unit comprises a down converter that down converts a DC voltage at a first level to a DC voltage at a second level that is lower than the first level.

22. A modular display panel comprising:

a thermally conductive housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the thermally conductive housing;

a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board;

an environmental protection structure over the plurality of LEDs;

a driver circuit attached to the printed circuit board and disposed in the thermally conductive housing; and

a power supply disposed at a second side of the printed circuit board, the second side opposite the first side, wherein the panel is sealed to be waterproof, the panel comprising an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP 67 or IP 68, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be modularly attached to other modular display panels to form a larger display area.

23. The panel of claim 22, further comprising a heat sink disposed in the thermally conductive housing, wherein the heat sink thermally contacts a surface of the thermally conductive housing.

24. The panel of claim 22, wherein the environmental protection structure comprises louvers disposed over the plurality of LEDs.

25. The panel of claim 24, wherein the louvers are configured to minimize natural light from striking the plurality of LEDs from identified angles.

26. The panel of claim 22, wherein the environmental protection structure comprises a potting compound formed over the plurality of LEDs.

27. The panel of claim 22, wherein the thermally conductive housing comprises a metal.

28. The panel of claim 22, wherein the thermally conductive housing comprises plastic.

29. A modular display panel comprising:

means for encasing components of the modular display panel, the means for encasing components comprising a thermally conductive material, wherein the means for encasing components comprises plastic sidewalls;

means for emitting light from the modular display panel, the means for emitting light being attached to a means for supporting the means for emitting light, the means for supporting being disposed in the means for encasing components;

means for powering the means for emitting light, the means for supporting being disposed between the means for powering and the means for emitting light;

means for passively dissipating heat from the means for powering, the means for passively dissipating heat disposed between the means for powering and an outer back surface of the modular display panel; and

means for protecting the means for emitting light, the means for protecting being disposed on a display side of the modular display panel, wherein the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be modularly attached to other modular display panels to form a larger display area.

30. The modular display panel of claim 29 being part of a display panel system comprising:

a plurality of the modular display panels;

means for supporting the plurality of the modular display panels to form an integrated modular display panel; and

means for attaching the plurality of the modular display panels to the means for supporting the plurality of the modular display panels.