Patent Application
20100090927
1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to light emitting apparatuses.
More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an improved method and apparatus for emitting light, in which the light emitting apparatus may be used within many different environments.
2. Background Art
Display units for entertainment, architectural, and advertising purposes have commonly been constructed from numbers of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) or incandescent lamps mounted onto flat panels. The light emitting elements may be selectively turned on and off to create patterns, graphics, and video displays for both informational and aesthetic purposes. It is well known to construct these displays as tiles or large panels which are assembled in position for a specific entertainment show or event, or also as an architectural or advertising display. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,813,853, 6,704,989 and 6,314,669.
As the LED video market expands into new domains, the classic fixed structure of the LED video panel may become a limitation. Designers, architects, and advertisers may desire the flexibility and versatility to use only one or a few products within the rapidly changing environment of the modern era. For example, a panel or modular box system may work well in a stadium score board or as an advertisement on the Las Vegas Strip, but the large panels may have limitations on transparency and weight.
Accordingly, there may be a requirement at an event or within a theatrical production to use a display system that is easily removable, for example, moving the display system in between scenes of a play and as the needs of the production dictates. A display apparatus constructed as a large panel or as a series of solid tiles bolted or permanently fixed together may be very inappropriate for such an application or need. The displays may be large and heavy, and require abundant support machinery, time, and storage space for installation. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,989, issued to Lutz, an electronic signal display system requires the individual display sections be lifted out of storage cases with a lifting truss and then joined and stacked appropriately for display.
To improve upon these limitations, as described above, many existing products are being developed with a degree of transparency and to weigh less than their panel based counterparts. An example of such a prior art display apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,290 (“Tokimoto”).
Tokimoto discloses a system that effectively integrates the electronic and structural components for use in a building. In this case, the LED ribs are incorporated into a void in the glass wall of the building. However, there may be limitations to the method disclosed in Tokimoto. For example, maintaining the system within the void is complicated. The system disclosed by Tokimoto could be used to back light a graphic on the glass exterior; however, issues with line of sight would prevent the system from acting as a part of the graphic. This may be the result in the alignment of the system and the graphic shifting as the viewer moves. Further, the system may not function as a finished surface and may be difficult to access and maintain.
Another requirement for display systems used for events, such as theatrical productions, is for the display to be easily and quickly configurable to multiple sizes and shapes, thereby allowing the system to suit different installations and logistical constraints. However, while these LED tile systems usually focus on transparency and light weight, the systems generally require frames and ground support structures. For example, the light tile systems often use an extruded aluminum housing that must be attached to a metal frame of some sort. These frames may then be ground supported by an external structure to make use of rigging systems when creating LED tile systems of significant size. As such, these systems generally create an additional cost and tend to work against the goal of creating a transparent and light weight wall system. Accordingly, there exists a need for a light emitting apparatus that improves upon these prior art support structures for continued development and success within the various light emitting industries.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a light emitting apparatus. The light emitting apparatus includes a first display module and a second display module, each comprising at least one light emitting element, a first support and a second support, and a first spacer and a second spacer. A first end of the first display module and a first end of the second display module are connected to the first support and the first spacer is disposed between the first end of the first display module and the first end of the second display module. A second end of the first display module and a second end of the second display module are connected to the second support and the second spacer is disposed between the second end of the first display module and the second end of the second display module.
In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate a light emitting apparatus including a first display module and a second display module, each comprising at least one light emitting element, and a first support bar, a second support bar, a third support bar, and a fourth support bar. A first end of the first display module is connected to the first support bar and a second end of the first display module is connected to the second support bar. A first end of the second display module is connected to the third support bar and a second end of the second display module is connected to the fourth support bar. The first support bar and the third support bar are connected together, and the second support bar and the fourth support bar are connected together.
In yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a light emitting apparatus including a display module. The display module includes a first light emitting element, a second light emitting element, a structural member, in which the structural member connects the first light emitting element to the second light emitting element. The apparatus then further includes one of a first support and a first support bar and one of a second support and a second support bar. A first end of the display module is connected to the one of the first support and the first support bar. A second end of the display module is connected to the one of the second support and the second support bar.
Further, in yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of constructing a light emitting apparatus. The method includes providing a first display module and a second display module, in which the first display module and the second display module each comprise at least one light emitting element, and connecting a first end of the first display module to a first support and a second end of the first display module to a second support. The method then further includes disposing a first spacer about the first support and a second spacer about the second support, and connecting a first end of the second display module to the first support and a second end of the second display module to the second support. The first spacer is disposed between the first end of the first display module and the first end of the second display module. The second spacer is disposed between the second end of the first display module and the second end of the second display module.
Furthermore, in yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate a light emitting apparatus including a first display module having a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element, in which a first structural member connects the first light emitting element to the second light emitting element, and a second display module having a third light emitting element and a fourth light emitting element, wherein a second structural member connects the third light emitting element to the fourth light emitting element. A first wiring system electrically connects the first light emitting element to the third light emitting element. A second wiring system electrically connects the second light emitting element to the fourth light emitting element.
Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures may be denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. Further, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a light emitting apparatus having one or more display modules. A display module may include one or more light emitting elements, in which the light emitting elements may then be connected by structural members disposed therebetween. Further, the module of the apparatus may then be connected at each end to a support or a support bar. If the module is connected to supports, then spacers may be placed adjacent to the ends of the module to maintain a desired distance between the module and another module. If the module is connected to support bars, then when the module connects to another module, the support bars of this module may connect with support bars connected to the other module. Further, when forming or assembling the light emitting apparatus, the modules of the light emitting apparatus may electrically connect. For example, the light emitting elements of the modules may electrically connect to each other.
Referring now to
The structural member 107 may be used to connect the light emitting elements 103 to each other then. For example, the structural member 107A may be disposed between and connect the light emitting element 103A and the light emitting element 103B. As such, the structural member 107A may be formed from a rigid material, such as a plastic or metal, and provide structural rigidity between the light emitting elements 103A and 103B.
Further, the light emitting apparatus 100 may include supports 111, spacers 113, and one or more wiring systems 115. In this embodiment, one end of the display module 101 is connected to one of the supports 111, and the other end of the display module 101 is connected to the other of the supports 111. As such, the display module 101 is connected to and disposed between each of the supports 111. Furthermore, the spacers 113 may be used to retain the ends of the module 101 in position on the supports 111 (described more below). Furthermore still, a wiring system 115 may be electrically connected to one or more of the light emitting elements 103. As such, the wiring system 115 may electrically connect the display module 101 to another display module. For example, light emitting elements 103 of the display module 101 may be electrically connected to other light emitting elements of an adjacent display module (described more below).
Referring now to
As shown, the light emitting apparatus 200 includes supports 211 and spacers 213. As such, one end of the display modules 201 may be connected to one of the supports 211, and another end of the display modules 201 may be connected to another of the supports 211, thereby having the display modules 201 connected to and disposed between the supports. When one of the ends of the display modules 201 connects with the support 211, the end of the display module 201 may slidably and rotatably connect with the support 211. As such, the end of the display module 201 may then slide along and rotate about the support 211. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, in which other embodiments of the present disclosure may have one or more ends of the display modules non-slidably and/or non-rotatably connect with the supports.
Further, the spacers 213 may be disposed adjacent to the ends of the display modules 201. As shown, when the ends of the display modules 201 are connected to the supports 211, the spacers may be disposed between the ends of each of the display modules 201. For example, end 221A and 221B of the display modules 201A and 201B, respectively, are each connected to the support 211A, in which the spacer 213A is disposed between each of the ends 221A and 221B. The spacer 213A may then be connected to the support 211A, such as by disposing the spacer 213A about the support 211A. As such, similar to the ends 221A and 221B of the display modules 201A and 201B, respectively, the spacer 213A may slidably and rotatably connect with the support 211A. Thus, the spacer may then slide along and rotate about the support 211A. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, in which other embodiments of the present disclosure may have one or more spacers non-slidably and/or non-rotatably connect with the supports.
The spacers 213 may then be formed or manufactured in different sizes, such as in different lengths, so as to control the distance between each of display modules 201 as desired. As such, by including the spacers 213 within the light emitting apparatus 200, the display modules 201 may have a desired separation and distance formed therebetween. For example, in the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, as described above, the display modules 201 may electrically connect to each other. For example, as shown in
By having the wiring system 215A disposed between and electrically connecting the light emitting elements 203A and 203B, data and/or power signals may be transmitted between the light emitting elements 203A and 203B. As such, the light emitting apparatus 200 may then be electrically connected to a power unit and/or a main processor. The power unit and the main processor may send power signals and/or data signals back and forth with the light emitting apparatus 200, in particular with the light emitting elements 203 of the light emitting apparatus 200. Based on the power signal, the light emitting elements may be selectively powered on and off or emit light with varying intensities, and based on the data signal, the light emitting elements may selectively emit light of different colors. Furthermore, with multiple light emitting elements and display modules connected to each other, the lighting emitting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may be configured to display an image based upon the power and data signals.
Furthermore still, the supports 211 may be formed from a rigid or a flexible material. Preferably though, the support is formed from a flexible material, such as, but not limited to, a cable, a wire, a rope, a cord, or a mesh material. Regardless though, even assuming the supports 211 are formed from a rigid or a flexible material, the supports may provide mechanical support for the light emitting apparatus 200 and may provide accurate positioning for the display modules 201.
Preferably, multiple portions of the light emitting apparatus are formed from a transparent material so as to increase the transparency of the light emitting apparatus. As such, the supports and/or the spacers of the light emitting apparatus may be formed from a transparent material. For example, each of the supports and the spacers may be formed from a transparent plastic resin. Further, the display modules may be substantially formed from a transparent material. For example, the structural members and/or the housing may be formed from a rigid transparent material. This use of transparent materials may increase the ability of a viewer to see-through the light emitting display. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited, in which the light emitting apparatus may instead be formed with multiple portions having an opaque material.
Referring now to
Further, as also described above, the display modules 301 of the light emitting apparatus 300 may be formed with a rigid material, such as by forming the structural members 307 from a rigid plastic material, and the supports 311 may be formed with a flexible material, such as with a chord. In such an embodiment, the light emitting apparatus 300 may be configured to be rigid in one direction and flexible in another direction. For example, in this embodiment, the light emitting apparatus 300 will be rigid in a direction parallel to the display modules 301. As such, the rigidity of the light emitting apparatus 300 will prevent, until failure of the rigid material, folding of the light emitting apparatus 300 in a direction parallel to the display modules 301. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the light emitting apparatus 300 will be flexible in a direction perpendicular to the display modules 301. Therefore, this flexibility will allow folding or rolling of the light emitting apparatus 300 in a direction perpendicular to the display modules 301. However, by including the spacers 313, the light emitting apparatus 300 may only be folded with a minimum size radius. By properly designing the spacers 313 of the light emitting apparatus 300 then, this minimum size radius of the fold with the spacers 313 may prevent any damage from folding or rolling the light emitting apparatus 300 too tightly.
Referring now to
However, in this embodiment, rather than including supports and/or spacers, the light emitting apparatus includes support bars 417. These support bars 417 may be used to provide support, in addition to proper spacing, for the display modules 401 and the light emitting apparatus 400. As such, an end 421 of one or more of the display modules 401 may be connected to one of the support bars 417, and another end 421 of one or more of the display modules may be connected to another of the supports bars 417. A support bar 417 would then be connected to each end 421 of the one or more display modules 421. Similar to the display modules connecting to the supports of above, when one of the ends 421 of the display modules 401 connects with the support bar 417, the end 421 may slidably and rotatably connect with the support bar 417. The end 421 of the display module 401 may then slide along and rotate about the support bar 417. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, in which other embodiments of the present disclosure may have one or more ends of the display modules non-slidably and/or non-rotatably connected with the support bars.
Referring still to
The support bars 417 may then be formed or manufactured in different sizes, such as in different lengths, so as to control the distance between each of the display modules 401 as desired. As such, by including the support bars 417 within the light emitting apparatus 400, the display modules 401 may have a desired and separation and distance formed therebetween, as similar to the light emitting apparatuses of above with the spacers.
Preferably, the support bars are formed from a transparent material so as to increase the transparency of the light emitting apparatus. For example, the support bars may be formed from a transparent plastic resin, or from a rigid transparent material. This use of the transparent material may increase the ability of a view to see-through the light emitting display. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited, in which the support bars may instead be formed from an opaque material.
Further, preferably the support bars are formed from a rigid material so as to provide support for the light emitting apparatus. For example, the support bars may be formed from a rigid plastic, or from a metal. This use of a rigid material may increase rigidity of the light emitting apparatus and the ability of the light emitting apparatus to carry higher loads. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited, in which the support bars may instead be formed from an non-rigid material.
Regardless, assuming the support bars 417 are formed from a rigid or a non-rigid material, the light emitting apparatus 400 may still be configured to be rigid in one direction and flexible (e.g. foldable) in another direction. For example, in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Further, as shown, the support bars 617 may be formed from a wire. In the embodiment in
Referring now to
Further, as shown, the display module 701 includes a wiring system 715, in which the wiring system 715 is electrically connected to the light emitting element 703. This enables the display module 701, and particularly the light emitting element 703, to electrically connect with other display modules 701. Furthermore, the display module 701 includes a structural member 707, in which, in this embodiment, the structural member 707 is integrally formed with the housing 705. As such, the structural member 707 enables the light emitting element 703 to connect to other light emitting elements 703 of the display module 701.
As discussed, the light emitting apparatus of the present disclosure includes one or more light emitting elements. Generally, the light emitting apparatus will include multiple light emitting elements. Each of these light emitting elements may then include one or more light emitters. For example, in one embodiment, a light emitting element may only include one light emitter. However, in another embodiment, a light emitting element may include multiple light emitters, such as having three light emitters. The light emitters may then be a light emitting diode, an organic light emitting diode, a polymer light emitting diode, or any other light emitting element know in the art. Assuming more than one light emitter is used within a light emitting element, the light emitters may then be the same or different colors, or the same or different sizes, or the same or different types.
Further, as shown and described herein, the light emitting elements of the light emitting apparatuses are arranged in a regular array. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the present disclosure is not so limited, as the light emitting elements may instead be arranged in a random, or in a pseudo-random arrangement. When having a random or pseudo-random arrangement, the supports, the spacers, the support bars, the structural members, and other various components of the light emitting apparatus may have varied shapes and sizes.
Furthermore, as also shown and described herein, the light emitting elements of the light emitting apparatus are arranged to only emit light in one direction. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the present disclosure is not so limited, as the light emitting elements may instead be arranged to emit light in more than one direction. For example, in another embodiment, the light emitting elements may be arranged such that light emitters are configured to emit light in two directions, such as from two opposite sides of the light emitting element. As such, this would increase the visibility of the light emitted by the light emitting apparatus.
Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for one or more of the following advantages. First, the present disclosure may provide for a lightweight light emitting apparatus. This lightweight light emitting apparatus may increase the versatility to expand the different uses for the apparatus. Next, the present disclosure may provide for a light emitting apparatus that is transparent. This transparency may prevent having the apparatus impede any visuals for a lighting arrangement. Further, the present disclosure may provide for a light emitting apparatus that may be quickly and easily connected and disconnected. For example, the quick assembly of the display modules of the light emitting apparatus may reduce the setup time of the light emitting apparatus. Finally, the present disclosure may provide for a light emitting apparatus that is adaptable to fit multiple types of environments and various lighting needs. The light emitting apparatus may be customized, such as each light module may be customized, to form a light emitting apparatus having different sizes, shapes, and arrangements.
While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled 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 disclosure as described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be limited only by the attached claims.
This application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/893,758 filed on Mar. 8, 2007 and entitled “Ladder Display System” in the name of Jeremy Hochman and Jeff Maddox, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US08/03060 | 3/7/2008 | WO | 00 | 9/2/2009 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60893758 | Mar 2007 | US |
