The invention concerns a light diode display containing a large number of pixels, the pixels containing a number of light diodes, the light diodes producing light of different colour, where the light diodes are electrically connected to a power supply, and where the pixels or the light diodes also communicate with a control unit.
Existing LED video displays on the market are made in different versions as fixed frame modules which are combined into the desired screen size or as flexible fabric or mesh displays that are easily folded or collapsed. However, not all LED video display are made with an individually determined pixel spacing, and the applicability of a screen thus depends on this fact. The greater pixel spacing, the farther away from the screen you have to be in order to get a functional image.
Therefore, as a rental company it is necessary to invest in several LED video screens as all application needs have to be covered. This means more big product investments and greater expenses for storing them.
To this is added that the existing LED video displays for entertainment purposes are static products that only show a graphic image. Frequently, the display will just hang in motor cranes, and the only possibility of varying the scene setup is to move the screen up and down by these cranes.
The existing LED video displays on the market today are focused on the combination flexibility (modularity), mounting and dismounting speed, coupling methods, size and weight. Time is money, and everything on these video displays thus has to be easily and rapidly performed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,471 concerns a folding display which contains a net of horizontal and vertical rods for forming a stand of three-dimensional cells. The cells have eight corners with a separate item at each of the corners of the cell. The stand forming each cell has a top section, a bottom section and two side sections. Each section of the stand is formed by two interacting rods which are interconnected midway between their ends. The ends of the rods in each cell are fastened to associated items. Opposing cells in the stand share common rods and items. WO 99/49442 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,350 describe corresponding display systems.
The object of the present invention is to provide the possibility of varying the pixel spacing on a light diode video display, e.g. as a static option during the setting up of the display, or as a controllable pitch feature during the performing of an event.
A further object is to add horizontal and vertical movement of the entire video screen in order to impart greater application and entertainment value to the display.
This may be achieved by a light diode display as specified in the preamble of claim 1, if the individual pixels interact with a flexible mechanical construction consisting of a number of interactive rods, where the rods are interconnected by swivel joints, and where pixels are provided on the swivel joints.
Hereby may be achieved that a change of the size of the display can be effected by turning the rods in relation to the swivel joints. If the turning occurs synchronously for the entire display, a uniform extension will take place, whereby the distance between the individual pixels is increased without any substantial angular change of the angle necessarily existing between individual pixels. Hereby it becomes possible to unfold a reasonably large video wall very fast, where the video wall itself can be ready for showing images as soon as an electric connection of the individual pixels or light diodes has been performed. This may be effected centrally depending on how e.g. cabling is provided. Power cables may thus be laid out to each single pixel, while each single pixel communicates by electronic or optical communication means with a central electronic controller providing for the actual performing of a video presentation.
The rods may advantageously contain at least the electric connections to pixels or to light diodes. By running the electric connections inside the rods, it is achieved that the electric connections are well protected against common weather action by use in the outdoors, but at the same time there is achieved the advantage that electromagnetic shielding of the electric conductors is achieved. This may be advantageous if a data bus, e.g. together with a power connection, is to be run up to the individual pixels. Disturbing electric fields may destroy data communication over a bus connection if the radiation becomes too strong. However, by conducting the signals inside the rods, it will largely reduce the possibility of radiation of electric noise. Also, due to the shielding effect of the rods, no substantial radiation in connection with use of the light diode display will occur.
In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical construction may be designed as a frame formed of cells, where the size of the cell is adjustable by changing the distance between two of the joints of the cell. By making the construction as a number of interacting cells, it is achieved that the joints of all cells are moving simultaneously during unfolding and holding together, such that the distance can be adjusted with any angular displacement of the individual joints. In that a rod interacts with two joints, there will be at least two mechanical rods connected to each single joint. In that pixels are advantageously disposed at the joints where cell rods are interconnected. Both power and data bus are advantageously provided inside the rods. Since each individual pixel does not have to be connected with e.g. a data bus and a power supply, it is, however, possible to perform the invention by means of pixels where there is only provided a single live conductor within the rods, whereas the rods themselves form an earth connection, and where the individual pixels communicate with a controller via wireless electronic or optical communication means, whereby no data are to be transmitted via the cabling. In another possible embodiment, all communication with the individual pixels occurs by means of high frequency modulation of data signals which are superposed the power supply.
The mechanical construction of a frame in the form of a number of interacting cells may contain a scale between at least two joints. By providing a scale between joints in a cell, it will be easy by the scale to perform correct setting of the size of the frame. The measuring scale may simply contain a scale in mm or an indication of size and width, such that it becomes possible to accurately adjust the individual frame, which is advantageous if more frames are to interact by showing the same video sequence.
The frame may advantageously contain at least one actuator for adjusting the size. Using an actuator, e.g. in connection with a screw or worm connection between the joints of a cell, may provide that it becomes possible to perform setting of the size of the frame in a very simple and accurate way.
The actuator of the frame may interact with a motor regulated by a control unit, where a position detector transmits a signal depending on the actual size of the cell to the control unit, and where the control unit regulates the motor to the desired size of the cell and thereby the size of the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is connected to a motor such that the setting may be effected automatically. By simultaneously providing that a regulating unit communicates with a response signal, an automatic setting for the desired size may be achieved.
The individual pixels may communicate mutually or by a controller via two-way wireless communication. Hereby may be achieved that data do not have to be transmitted in the cell rods.
Advantageously, communication between pixels may take place by IR communication. Based on the fact that the angle between pixels is constant, and that the spacing has a maximum size, IR communication can be used for two-way high-speed IR communication.
The rods of the frame may advantageously be made of completely or partially transparent material. With transparent rods, the frame becomes partially transparent from the back side.
The rods of the frame may contain light diodes. If the rods are transparent, one or more light diodes, possibly in a row, may emit light from the rods.
The rods of the frame may be provided with holes for accommodating light diodes. Light diodes may hereby be disposed directly in the rods, and the light diodes may be powered by cabling hidden in the rods.
A number of the variable rods may in an embodiment be constituted by one or more linear actuators which automatically can unfold and collapse the frame when activated.
Besides, a double LED display may be constructed by providing the swivel joints at both sides of the frame with LED pixels. The two displays may be controlled by the same control unit or two different control units. By both solutions it is possible to control both displays such that the same image is shown on both displays or such that different images are shown on the two displays.
As described above, it is possible to connect the light diodes through the rods, but in an alternative embodiment, the joints/swivel joints include a fitting to which a light diode may be fastened. An LED array including a number of light diode pixels connected to power supply wires and control wires may thus be fastened to the frame by fastening the light diodes to the joints. In that case, the length of wire between each single light diode will determine how large the display can become. This may be solved by letting the wire length between individual light diodes exceed the largest pixel spacing to which the frame may be unfolded.
In order to enable varying the pixel spacing of the light diode video display, a special mechanical structure is used as the chassis of the display. The mechanical structure is a kind of 3D cell construction where the height, width and depth of the chassis may be determined by varying the distance between two joints in the structure. If the joint distance is increased, the height, width and depth are increased via the cell method. The invention provides placing pixels at the joints at one side of this cell chassis frame. By varying the distance between two joints, the spacing between pixels may now be adjusted according to need.
All wiring may be carried in the tubing of the cell structure, as no lengths are increased by pixel adjustment. Only the angle between the tubes in the joints will vary, but this will not influence the wire length.
During setup procedure, a static pixel spacing can be determined on each display module via a mechanical locking solution and an associated scale. Also, the adjusting of the pixel spacing can be motorised by providing a motor on the line between two diagonal joints at the centre of the back side of the cell structure.
Besides this, horizontal and vertical movement may be added to the entire light diode video display by mounting it on a so-called moving head known from the entertainment industry. By fastening the centre point of the back side to the front of the moving head, it is now possible to move the whole display around.
Cooling of the light diodes in the structural joint may be done by convection by means of the aluminium block of the joint itself, where the cell rods are already secured. Also, the rods may be applied as cooling measure by using heat pipes as rods in the cell construction.
By using this cell chassis structure, spectators are not provided a better display than others, but a new adjusting parameter is added which may either be used for a logistics purpose or an entertainment purpose. It will be a great saving by investing in a new type of light diode video display which is capable of meeting the requirements to pixel spacing of all applications. Also, a motorised adjusting of the pixel spacing will be advantageous during setup, since this may be determined according the conditions of the application. At the same time, this will provide entertainment advantages in the form of programming options to the screen size during an event.
Fastening the entire light video display on a moving head provides entirely new entertainment options in the form of coordinated motion programs. Also, the motion may be used for following people in movement or easy optimising the viewing angle in relation to the audience.
By using heat pipes as rods in the cell construction, the size of the joints may be reduced, thereby enabling to get the joints closer together and resulting in a lesser pixel spacing.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PA 2007 01581 | Nov 2007 | DK | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DK2008/050270 | 11/6/2008 | WO | 00 | 12/18/2009 |