Extending type of display apparatus and display system using the same

• US 6,791,513 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daichu Denshi Company Limited, Fourie Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daichu Denshi Company Limited, Fourie Incorporated
• Inventors: Ogino, Osamu, Motoshima, Takahiko, Nishida, Shinsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US10/383,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 345/55, 345/60, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/204, 345/903, 345/211, 345/30, 345/33, 348/383
• US Class Current: 345/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2085 Special arrangements for addressing the individual elements of the matrix, other than by driving respective rows and columns in combination
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2088 with use of a plurality of processors, each processor controlling a number of individual elements of the matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2092 Details of a display terminals using a flat panel, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/003; specific for a CRT G09G1/165
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant

Abstract

An extending type of display apparatus of which the screen can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units each having the same configuration to each other, in which the display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each display element, a memory for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for signal transaction between controllers, and a power transmitting section for supplying power, and the controller executes signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to the controller through the signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting a plurality of the display units to each other as well as a position of the unit in the screen, and generates each address information according to the position of the unit to be stored in a memory.

Claims

1. An extending type of display apparatus having a screen that can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units, each display unit having the same configuration, to each other, wherein:

said each display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each of said plurality of display elements, a storing section for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for signal transaction between said controller and an external device or any other display units, and a power transmitting section for supplying power to said plurality of display elements, controller, storing section, and said signal transmitting section;

said power transmitting section can electrically be connected, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, to power transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said power transmitting section;

said signal transmitting section can execute, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with signal transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said signal transmitting section; and

said controller executes, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to said controller through said signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting said plurality of display units to each other and recognizes a position of the controller'"'"'s display unit in said screen, and generates address information for each display element in said screen according to said position of the controller'"'"'s display unit;

wherein said controller address information generating function comprises dividing the screen into equal portions and assigning first area addresses, then further repeating the division a plurality of times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit.

2. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal transmitting section is an infrared communicating means.

3. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power transmitting section in any among the plurality of display units connected to each other, said power transmitting section being connected to an external power supply unit, whereby power is supplied to any other of said plurality of display units through the display unit connected to said external power supply unit.

4. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said controller for each of said plurality of display units determines how many display units are present to the right side, left side, upper side, and lower side from the controller'"'"'s display unit, respectively, for said recognizing a size of the screen.

5. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display unit has 2^2m (m:

an integer) display elements arrayed in a (2 m)×

(2 m) matrix.

6. A display system comprising an extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1, a power supply unit for supplying power to said extending type of display apparatus, and a control unit for supplying a display signal, including display address infonnation and display data information indicating display contents, to said extending type of display apparatus.

7. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said controller sets a virtual screen with 2^2I (I=natural number) of display units arrayed in a 2i×

2i matrix, divides the virtual screen into equal portions and assigns first area addresses, then further repeats the division n times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit.

8. An extending type of display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said screen comprises a virtual screen.

9. An extending type of display apparatus having a screen that can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units, each display unit having the same configuration, to each other, wherein:

said each display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each of said plurality of display elements, a storing section for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for signal transaction between said controller and an external device or any other display units, and a power transmitting section for supplying power to said plurality of display elements, controller, storing section, and said signal transmitting section;

said power transmitting section can electrically be connected, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, to power transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said power transmitting section;

said signal transmitting section can execute, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with signal transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said signal transmitting section;

said controller executes, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to said controller through said signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting said plurality of display units to each other and recognizes a position of the controller'"'"'s display unit in said screen, and generates address information for each display element in said screen according to said position of the controller'"'"'s display unit;

wherein said controller address information generating function comprises dividing the screen into equal portions and assigning first area addresses, then further repeating the division a plurality of times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit; and

said controller for each of said plurality of display units determines, when having received a display signal including display address information specifying a display element as well as display data information, from an external device or from any other display units adjacent to said controller, whether any address information matching said display address information exists or not by referring to said storing section of the controller'"'"'s display unit, and changes, if it is determined that the matching address information exists therein, a display state of any display element having the corresponding address information, according to said display data information.

10. An extending type of display apparatus having a screen that can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units, each display unit having the same configuration, to each other, wherein:

said each display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each of said plurality of display elements, a storing section for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for signal transaction between said controller and an external device or any other display units, and a power transmitting section for supplying power to said plurality of display elements, controller, storing section, and said signal transmitting section;

said power transmitting section can electrically be connected, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, to power transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said power transmitting section;

said signal transmitting section can execute, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with signal transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said signal transmitting section;

said controller executes, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to said controller through said signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting said plurality of display units to each other and recognizes a position of the controller'"'"'s display unit in said screen, and generates address information for each display element in said screen according to said position of the controller'"'"'s display unit;

wherein said controller address information generating function comprises dividing the screen into eiual portions and assigning first area addresses, then further repeating the division a plurality of times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit;

a power transmitting section in any among the plurality of display units connected to each other, said power transmitting section being connected to an external power supply unit, whereby power is supplied to any other of said plurality of display units through the display unit connected to said external power supply unit; and

when a size of the screen, obtained by connecting a plurality of said display units to each other, and a position of the unit in said screen are to be recognized, the controller of any display unit connected to said external power supply unit instructs start of processing for said recognition.

11. An extending type of display apparatus having a screen that can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units, each display unit having the same configuration, to each other, wherein:

said each display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each of said plurality of display elements, a storing section for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for signal transaction between said controller and an external device or any other display units, and a power transmitting section for supplying power to said plurality of display elements, controller, storing section, and said signal transmitting section;

said power transmitting section can electrically be connected, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, to power transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said power transmitting section;

said signal transmitting section can execute, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with signal transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said signal transmitting section;

said controller executes, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to said controller through said signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting said plurality of display units to each other and recognizes a position of the controller'"'"'s display unit in said screen, and generates address information for each display element in said screen according to said position of the controller'"'"'s display unit;

wherein said controller address information generating function comprises dividing the screen into eciual portions and assigning first area addresses, then further repeating the division a plurality of times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit; and

said controller for each of said plurality of display units transmits a request, when there is found any change in a connection state of any display units adjacent to said controller, for starting the processing for said recognition to any other of said plurality of display units.

12. An extending type of display apparatus having a screen that can be extended by connecting a plurality of display units, each display unit having the same configuration, to each other, wherein:

said each display unit comprises a plurality of display elements arrayed in a matrix, a controller for controlling each display state of each of said plurality of display elements, a storing section for storing therein each address information for each of the display elements, a signal transmitting section for sianal transaction between said controller and an external device or any other display units, and a power transmitting section for supplying power to said plurality of display elements, controller, storing section, and said signal transmitting section;

said power transmitting section can electrically be connected, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, to power transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said power transmitting section;

said signal transmitting section can execute, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with signal transmitting sections of those of said plurality of display units adjacent to said signal transmitting section;

said controller executes, when said plurality of display units are connected to each other, signal transaction with controllers of any other display units adjacent to said controller through said signal transmitting section, recognizes a size of the screen obtained by connecting said plurality of display units to each other and recognizes a position of the controller'"'"'s display unit in said screen, and generates address information for each display element in said screen according to said position of the controller'"'"'s display unit;

wherein said controller address information generating function comprises dividing the screen into equal portions and assigning first area addresses, then further repeating the division a plurality of times until the number of display elements in a divided screen is one unit; and

said screen comprises in a first level an overall structure formed of a plurality of display units,

each said display unit comprises in a second level, a sub structure formed of a plurality of display elements, and

each said display elements in a third level are a lowest level display component.