Modular LED messaging sign panel and display system
First Claim
1. A modular messaging sign panel capable of emitting light, the panel comprising:
- a) an electrical circuit board;
b) a plurality of lights coupled to the circuit board;
c) a plurality of display chips coupled to the electrical circuit for driving the lights;
d) a three wire connection to the panel, a first wire connected between a host and the electrical circuit on the panel, and second and third wire connections between a power supply and the electrical circuit on the panel; and
e) uniquely addressable serial data selection and distribution means for receiving all serial data outputted from the host and distributing selected serial data to the display chips along a single serial data line if the selected serial data contains an address match for the panel, the uniquely addressable serial data selection and distribution means coupled to the electrical circuit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular messaging sign panel contains a plurality of LEDs coupled to a plurality of latched drivers. A microcontroller on the panel has a unique serial number permitting the panel to be selectively addressed by a host. The microcontroller receives serial data representing an image frame, selects the data intended for the panel in which it controls and clocks it out to the latched drivers along a single serial data line. Multiple panels can be connected to form a larger display panel system. Each panel has its own uniquely addressed microcontroller. A three wire connection couples the panel or display system to a computer and a power supply. A single jumper wire connects each modular panel together such that the data output from the computer is received by every microcontroller within the system in a parallel configuration. Accordingly, each microcontroller is receiving all the data outputted from the computer but only selects certain data for distribution to the latched drivers coupled to the LEDs on its particular panel based upon an ID match. Power and ground are supplied to a multi-panel system via power and ground rails of a frame structure upon which the panels are mounted.
229 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A modular messaging sign panel capable of emitting light, the panel comprising:
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a) an electrical circuit board; b) a plurality of lights coupled to the circuit board; c) a plurality of display chips coupled to the electrical circuit for driving the lights; d) a three wire connection to the panel, a first wire connected between a host and the electrical circuit on the panel, and second and third wire connections between a power supply and the electrical circuit on the panel; and e) uniquely addressable serial data selection and distribution means for receiving all serial data outputted from the host and distributing selected serial data to the display chips along a single serial data line if the selected serial data contains an address match for the panel, the uniquely addressable serial data selection and distribution means coupled to the electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A light emitting sign display system comprising:
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a) at least two modular panels having electrical circuits traced thereupon; b) a plurality of lights coupled to the electrical circuits of the modular panels; c) a plurality of display chips coupled to the electrical circuits of the modular panels, the plurality of lights directly coupled to outputs of the display chips, the display chips capable of outputting data to the lights for the display of an image upon the sign display system; d) a frame structure having voltage conducting rails and ground rails, the voltage conducting rails electrically coupled to a positive DC voltage of a power supply, the ground rails coupled to a common ground reference, the modular panels attached to the frame structure such that each modular panel is coupled to the DC voltage and the common ground reference; and e) uniquely addressable serial data and panel selection and distribution means for receiving all serial data outputted from a host and distributing selected serial data to the display chips of a particular panel within the sign display system along a single serial data line if the selected serial data contains an address match for the particular panel, the uniquely addressable serial data and panel selection and distribution means coupled to each electrical circuit on each panel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An LED sign display system comprising:
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a) at least two modular panels having electrical circuits traced thereupon; b) a plurality of LEDs coupled to the electrical circuits of the modular panels; c) a plurality of latched drivers coupled to the electrical circuits of the modular panels, the plurality of LEDs directly coupled to outputs of the latched drivers, the latched drivers capable of outputting data to the LEDs for the display of an image upon the sign display system, the latched drivers on a single panel coupled in series along a single serial data line on each panel; d) a frame structure having voltage conducting rails and ground rails, the voltage conducting rails electrically coupled to a positive DC voltage of a power supply, the ground rails coupled to a common ground reference, the modular panels attached to the frame structure such that each modular panel is coupled to the DC voltage and the common ground reference; and e) a plurality of microcontrollers each having a unique non-erasable serial number, the microcontrollers for receiving all serial data outputted from a host and distributing selected serial data to the latched drivers of a particular panel within the sign display system along the single serial data line if the selected serial data contains an address match for the particular panel, each microcontroller coupled to the electrical circuit of each panel.
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Specification