1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to display units and display systems. Specifically, selected embodiments relate to an improved display unit with pixels for use in various industries.
2. Background Art
Display units for entertainment, architectural, and advertising purposes have commonly been constructed using multiple pixels, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or incandescent lamps mounted onto flat panels. These pixels may be selectively turned on and off to create patterns, graphics, and video displays for both informational and visual purposes. It is well known in the art to construct these displays from tiles or large panels, each tile or panel containing several pixels. These tiles or panels may then be assembled in position for an entertainment show or event, or as an architectural or advertising display. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,737,983 and 6,677,918.
Increasingly, display units are being used on the exteriors of buildings for entertainment, architectural, or advertising purposes in a manner that does not fully integrate them into the style and physical envelope of the building. As the display unit market expands into new domains, the classic fixed structure of the display panel becomes a limitation. For example, Times Square in New York City and the Las Vegas Strip are two areas littered with such display units either contained within the wall of glass buildings or grafted onto the outside of buildings with little regard for the buildings' architecture. These types of display units face limits on transparency, weight, and how they are integrated with the architecture.
As this practice continues, it may be useful to incorporate the display units into the actual skin of the building. One technique of doing so is to combine the cladding system (e.g., a stainless steel or aluminum cladding system) with a display unit. The display unit could be a standard matrix type with the LED clusters mounted in holes or mounted on the exterior. U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,918 discloses such a system, effectively integrating the electronic and structural components of a display unit into the outer structure of a building. In this system, the LED beams forming a matrix of pixels are incorporated into a void in the glass wall of the building. However, this type of system has several limitations preventing full architectural usefulness of the display units. Such a system may be difficult to maintain because of its inaccessibility. Further, even when the system could be used to back light a graphic on the glass exterior, issues with line of sight would prevent the LED system from acting as a part of the graphic because the alignment of the two would shift as the viewer moves.
Further, many display units now use the word “curtain” to soften the public impression that LED displays are all composed of large metal boxes. However, several products that claim to be curtains do not function in such a way as the description would suggest. Generally, prior art curtains are rigid in structure and are not practical in use as a theatrical backdrop, such as a screen or fabric released from a box or sling and falls freely. However, through recent innovation, there are some designs and existing products that do function as a fabric or as a traditional curtain. An example of such a prior art curtain system is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0219171.
Referring to
In a similar fashion to the prior art curtain display unit, there are several existing examples of display units with LEDs incorporated onto a net-like material. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,900,850 and 6,362,801.
Thus, there is a growing need for light weight, transparent, and flexible display units that would be useful even while not operating. Such display units would be portable systems that may be incorporated into any structure having regular or irregular surfaces, in addition to free-standing display systems.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a display unit including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a pixel. The second substrate is attached to the first substrate such that a cavity is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the pixel is disposed within the cavity. Further, the pixel is configured to receive an electrical signal and power.
In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for manufacturing a display unit. The method includes providing a first substrate, a second substrate, and a pixel. The method further includes attaching the second substrate to the first substrate such that a cavity is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and disposing a pixel within the cavity. The pixel is configured to receive an electrical signal and power.
In yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a display unit including a first substrate with edges and a plurality of pixels disposed on the first substrate. At least one of the edges of the first substrate of the display unit is configured to removably attach to an edge of at least one adjacent display unit, and the plurality of pixels are configured to receive an electrical signal and power.
Further, in yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a display system. The display system includes a plurality of display units, in which each display unit includes a first substrate with edges and a plurality of pixels disposed upon the first substrate and configured to receive an electrical signal and power. As least one edge of at least one of the display units is configured to removably attach to another edge of an adjacent display unit.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an improved display unit adapted to be transparent and blend in with its surroundings when not in use. In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a display unit having cavities, in which a pixel is disposed in the cavities. Further, in another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a display unit configured to removably attach to adjacent display units.
Referring to
Disposed within cavity 311A of display unit 301A is a pixel 321A. In this embodiment, pixel 321A includes one or more light emitting elements 323A disposed upon and electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 325A. However, the light emitting elements may include, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), polymer LEDs (PLEDs), incandescent lamps, or any other light emitting elements known in the art. Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the pixels, and their light emitting elements and printed circuit boards, may be of any size and shape. Preferably though, the pixels used within the display unit are as small as possible to maximize the transparency of the display unit.
In one embodiment, the pixels of the display unit may each include a plurality of LEDs such that light of a desired color may be emitted from each pixel. For example, a pixel may include at least one red LED, one green LED, and one blue LED (i.e., an LED cluster) such that the intensity of each LED may be varied to produce a desired color, as is known in the art. Further, the pixels may be of any size and shape (e.g., square, circular, etc.), in which the size and shape of pixels need not be uniform throughout the display unit. Furthermore, the pixels are configured to receive an electrical signal (e.g., a data signal, control signal, etc.) and power. Each pixel may also include a driver circuit that varies the intensities of the lighting emitting elements within the pixel.
Referring now to
Further, as shown in
Referring to
When attaching the substrate materials of the display units to one another, the substrates may completely enclose the pixels so as to protect the pixels from the outside environment, or the substrates may only seal at portions of the edges so as to enable accessibility to the pixels. For example, in
Referring now to
Specifically, display unit 501 is configured to receive an electrical signal and power to display an image or video. The image or video is presented by selectively turning on and off, changing colors, and/or changing light intensity of pixels 521 within display unit 501. As shown, display unit 501 may be suspended by an attaching mechanism 540. Attaching mechanism 540 may include a rod with a plurality of rings to suspend and exhibit display unit 501, but those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any other attaching mechanism known in the art may also be used, such as a tensioned cable system.
Referring now to
Substrates 503 and 505 of display unit 501 are formed and attached in such a way that cavities 511 are rectangular in shape, arranged horizontally on display unit 501, and extend substantially across the entire length of display unit 501. However, as discussed above, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention is not so limited, and the cavities and/or substrates of the present invention may be of any size and shape and any arrangement with the pixels disposed therein. Further, as shown in
Preferably, the substrates of the display unit are manufactured from a flexible material, such as for use as a curtain and/or a theatrical backdrop. This flexible material used for the substrates may then include denim, polyester, vinyl, nylon, other plastic materials, or any other flexible material known in the art. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention is not so limited, and the substrates of the display unit may also be manufactured from a rigid material, such as for use as a billboard display. Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the substrates of the display unit may be manufactured from a material that is transparent, translucent, colored, opaque, diffusive, pre-printed, or any other decorative material known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the display unit may be retractable and portable, may present an attractive appearance both when dormant and when illuminated, and may easily integrate with a wide range of chosen backgrounds or architecture. Furthermore, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the substrates of the display unit may be manufactured from different materials, such as the first substrate is formed from a transparent material and the second substrate is formed from a diffusive material.
Referring to
In other embodiments, the holes may be included in the cavities of the display unit, rather than only in the first substrate around the cavities (as shown in
The display units of the present invention may also include support structures or support materials to increase the strength of the display unit. For example, in one embodiment, the display unit may include a rigid member, such as a rigid member attached to the substrates of the display unit, to reinforce the display unit. Rigid members may be used to prevent the display unit from fluttering or buffeting the wind, and may be used to stabilize the display unit while still allowing the display unit to remain generally flexible. The rigid member may include plastic, aluminum, wood, or any other material known in the art to increase the structural rigidity of the display unit. Further, in another embodiment, rather than rigid members, the display unit may include materials of high strength tensile properties. For example, the display unit may be laminated with carbon fiber to increase the tensile strength of the display unit. With this, the display unit may be folded, crumpled, pulled, and exposed to wind and water with decreased risk of damage to the display unit.
Referring now to
Signal input 765 of display system 700 may be provided through a number of methods or sources known in the art. As shown in
Referring still to
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that when the display unit is operated with a signal of its native resolution, the driver circuit may take or read the data and apply to the appropriate pixel of the display unit. With this, the data and signal from the output of the buffer may correspond directly with a pixel in the display unit. Otherwise, if the display unit does not operate from a signal of its native resolution, the appearance of each pixel may be affected by data from adjacent pixels, creating noise and distortion when the display system is in operation.
Generally, as shown, the signals between the electrical components of the display system and the display unit are transmitted by cables. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not so limited, and the signal may be transmitted by an Ethernet cord, traces on a PCB, long and/or short range wireless communication, or any other transmission means known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the display unit may receive the signal from the source to the signal input by using only wireless communication.
Referring now to
As shown in
Embodiments of the present invention may provide for one or more of the following advantages. First, display units of the present invention having a flexible substrate may be architecturally more useful and aesthetically more pleasing than typical display units having a more rigid structure. For example, in one embodiment, flexible display units of the present invention may conform to irregular surfaces so as to provide less visual interference between the irregular surface and the display unit attached thereto. Further, display units of the present invention may include transparent material, in which the display units may then blend into the backgrounds of their environment more easily. Furthermore, display units of the present invention may be easily manufactured, and even more, be easily assembled into larger display systems. Furthermore still, display units of the present invention may provide for effective displays while in use, such as displaying pre-recorded or live video, and may be transparent when not in use.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those having ordinary skill in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should only be limited by the attached claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/764,160 filed on Feb. 1, 2006, entitled “Low Resolution LED Video Shower Curtain” in the names of Matthew Ward, Jeremy Hochman, Nils Thorjussen, Jeff Maddox, and Chris Varrin. This application also claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/818,582 filed on Jul. 5, 2006, entitled “Fastener for a Flexible Display System” in the names of Jeremy Hochman and Nils Thorjussen. The aforementioned applications are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60764160 | Feb 2006 | US | |
60818582 | Jul 2006 | US |