Power and Control System for Modular Multi-Panel Display System

• US 20150186097A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ultravision Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, William Y.
• Granted Patent: US 9,069,519 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

In one embodiment, a modular multi-panel display system includes a mechanical support structure, and an array of LED display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display. None of the LED display panels have a receiver card within the panel. A receiver box is mounted to the mechanical support. The receiver box is housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the LED display panels. The receiver box includes a receiver card coupled to feed data to be displayed on the integrated display to a plurality of the LED display panels. A control box is outside of the mechanical support and electrically connected to the receiver box through a data connection. A plurality of electrical connections electrically connects the receiver box with a first display panel in each row of display panels.

Claims

1. A modular multi-panel display system comprising:

a mechanical support structure;

an array of display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display, none of the display panels having a receiver card within the panel, wherein each display panel is configured to receive AC power, and wherein each display panel comprises an AC-DC power converter to generate a DC power supply for the respective display panel;

a receiver box mounted to the mechanical support, the receiver box housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the display panels, wherein the receiver box comprises a power management unit for providing AC power to each of the array of display panels, wherein the receiver box is configured to send AC power and media to each display panel;

a control box at a remote location outside of the mechanical support and electrically connected to the receiver box through a data connection, wherein the receiver box is configured to communicate with the control box using a network connection, wherein the receiver box comprises a signal processing unit configured to decode media packets received from the control box, the media packets representing media data to be displayed on the integrated display, and wherein the receiver box comprises a system management unit configured to distribute the decoded media packets to each of the display panel;

a first plurality of electrical connections electrically connecting the receiver box with a first display panel in each row of display panels;

a second plurality of electrical connections, each electrically connecting the first display panel in each row with a second display panel in that row of display panels;

a third plurality of electrical connections, each electrically connecting the second display panel in each row with a third display panel in that row of display panels;

a fourth plurality of electrical connections, each electrically connecting a second-to-last display panel in each row with a last display panel in that row of display panels; and

a fifth plurality of electrical connections, each extending out of a respective one of the last display panels but not being electrically connected.

2. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a media server coupled to the control box.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the control box is a media server.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the control box includes a sending card with a data input and a data output, the control box further including a power management until coupled to the sending card.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the sending card comprises:

a bus;

a route processor coupled to the bus;

an inbound packet forwarder coupled to the bus;

an outbound packet forwarder coupled to the bus;

a packet processor coupled to the bus; and

a memory coupled to the bus.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the receiver box is coupled to provide power to the plurality of the display panels.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein each of the electrical connections comprises a power cable, wherein the receiver box includes a power module that supplies ac power to each of the display panels.

9. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a power source coupled to the control box and also coupled to the receiver box.

10. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the electrical connections comprises a power cable, wherein the receiver box includes a power module that supplies dc power to each of the display panels.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein each display panel includes a power supply configured to convert received dc power at a first voltage level into dc power at a second voltage level.

12. The display system of claim 10, wherein each of the electrical connections comprises an integrated data and power cable.

13. The display system of claim 10, wherein each of the second plurality of electrical connections comprises a first integrated data and power cable extending out of the first display panel and a second integrated data and power cable extending out of the second display panel, the first integrated data and power cable each including a first connector that is electrically and mechanically attached to a second connector of the second integrated data and power cable.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the receiver box comprises:

a power module with an ac power input;

digital circuitry configured to process the data to be displayed on the integrated display; and

a faraday shield separating the power module from the digital circuitry.

15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display system include no cabinets and wherein the display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning or fans.

16. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the display panels having an ingress protection rating of IP 65 or greater.

17. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the display panels having an ingress protection rating of IP 67 or greater.

18. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coupling mechanisms, wherein each display panel is mechanically coupled to the mechanical support structure and three other display panels by a respective coupling mechanism.

19. The display system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the display panels comprises all display panels in the array.

20. The display system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the display panels comprises some but not all of the display panels in the array, the system further comprising a second receiver box coupled to other display panels in the array.

30. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the display panels comprises LED display panels.

8. (canceled)

21. 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 each display panel is configured to receive AC power, and wherein each display panel comprises a AC-DC power converter to generate a DC power supply from AC power for the respective display panel;

attaching a receiver box to the mechanical support structure, the receiver box including power circuitry with an AC power input and an AC power output for providing AC power to each of the plurality of display panels, the receiver box further including digital circuitry configured to process media data to be displayed by the display panels, wherein the receiver box is configured to send AC power and media to each of the plurality of display panels;

electrically connecting the receiver box to a control box, at a remote location, that is not mounted to the mechanical support, the control box being electrically connected to the receiver box through a data connection, wherein the receiver box is configured to communicate with the control box using a network connection, wherein the receiver box comprises a signal processing unit configured to decode media packets received from the control box and a system management unit configured to distribute the decoded media packets to each of the plurality of display panels;

electrically connecting AC power from the receiver box to each of the display panels; and

electrically connecting media data from the receiver box to each of the display panels.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein electrically connecting the AC power and the media data comprises interconnecting a plurality of integrated data and power cables.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein electrically connecting the receiver box to the control box comprises electrically connecting the receiver box to the control box wirelessly.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching the display panels to the mechanical support structure comprises attaching each display panel to the mechanical support structure and to three other display panels by a respective coupling mechanism.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching the display panels to the mechanical support structure comprises attaching sealed display panels to the mechanical support structure without any cabinets, each sealed display panel having an ingress protection rating of IP 66 or greater.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the assembled display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning or fans.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the display panels includes a housing and none of the display panels includes a receiver card within the housing.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the display panels includes a fan within the housing.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the assembled display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning or fans.

31. A modular multi-panel display unit comprising:

a mechanical support structure comprising a catwalk;

an array of display panels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array of display panels is mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display, none of the display panels having a receiver card within the panel; and

a receiver box mounted to the mechanical support, the receiver box housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the display panels, the receiver box including a receiver card coupled to feed data to a plurality of the display panels and wherein the data is to be displayed on the integrated display, wherein a front side of the array of display panels comprises a display surface and an opposite back side faces the catwalk, and wherein the receiver box and the array of display panels are accessible from the catwalk.