1. Field of the Invention
The present invention to electronic sign displays and, more particularly relates to pixel interleaving configurations for use in high definition electronic sign displays.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art electronic sign displays have often incorporated a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a prime emitter of light or points of light, whereby visual perception is processed by the eye of a viewer as a graphic presentation. Electronic sign displays have evolved from those having moderate resolution to those having an improved degree of resolution approaching or equaling high definition video, such as brought on by the advent of high definition (HD) television devices. There is a desire for high definition, i.e., high resolution, indoor or outdoor LED displays reflecting the current trend in the ever increasing quest for picture-like HD video quality. There are two primary standards for HD video, one is 720p and the other is 1080i. The 720p standard uses 720 progressively scanned lines of multiple pixel groups of full color red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs, where each RGB LED group constitutes a single pixel that collectively create a video image frame for accumulated perception as an image by the human eye. For example, a progressive scan could use 1/60th of a second for each frame. The other standard is the 1080i standard, that supports 1080 lines of resolution by interleaved scanning. In interleaved scanning, the odd lines are illuminated for 1/60th of a second followed by the even scan lines for 1/60th of a second, giving a full frame of data in 1/30th of a second. Each video standard is independent of the light emitting technology, and therefore can be supported by CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal displays), plasma, or LEDs (light emitting diodes). Light emitting diode displays are often the preferred technology for large video displays because they are capable of creating a high contrast, bright display. Producing such high resolution light emitting displays requires the addition of LEDs where the quantity of LEDs are increased in great quantity to achieve desired clarity, resolution, definition and brightness. Because every pixel in those lines of resolution has a red, green, and blue component associated with it, every pixel should have a red, green, and blue LED to display all the video information available for that pixel element. LEDs are a very significant percentage of the cost of an LED screen, and therefore, a screen with 720 pixels high by some arbitrary number of pixels wide can be extremely expensive and, therefore, cost prohibitive for many users. Such an increase in the number of LEDs required for high definition resolution use can be problematic in terms of LED cost and in terms of energy usage. Size limitations are also a cause of concern. There are two approaches with respect to LED structuring when building a high definition electronic sign display. One approach uses a plurality of individual LEDs where each LED is an individual colored red, green, and blue LED, thereby forming a pixel. The physical size of these lamps along with the requirement to have at least three LEDs (red, green, and blue) limits how tightly the spacing can be between full color pixel elements. Alternatively, these lamp-style LEDs can be inserted through the circuit board as part of an LED package directly affixed to the face of the circuit board. This second approach is a surface mount device (SMD) package that preferably includes red, green, and blue LEDs in one package. Combining all three color diodes into such a single SMD LED package allows for tighter pixel spacing and is limited only by the size of the SMD package itself. In addition to typical video format displays, there are many applications pertaining to vertically small but very long displays. Some examples of these applications include financial ticker displays, or programmable electronic advertising displays, such as Daktronics, Inc. ProAd® product often found in stadiums and arenas. These displays are often between 1-4 feet tall, but can be tens or even hundreds of feet long. Vertical pixel resolution has a significant impact on the image quality of these displays and is beneficial to advertisers who want a high quality image when they are paying to advertise their product/company through the use of such a device. Clearly what is desired is a solution addressing the shortcomings of prior art devices where such a solution is introduced by the present invention.
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide pixel interleaving configurations for use in high definition electronic sign displays. The invention includes one or more red, green, and blue LED pixel configurations that are useful for optimizing the vertical resolution of LED video displays, especially high definition electronic sign displays. The following are key features or attributes of the invention:
1. Any pixel has at least 1 red, 1 green, and 1 blue (RGB) light emitting diode to form a full color element, but may be in different or varying configurations or native pixel arrangements, such as, but not limited to, the following basic configurations, whereby a pixel includes either: (a) individual LEDs including a grouping preferably of at least one red LED, one green LED, and one blue LED elements consisting of solely vertical LED alignment or consisting of triangular alignment or any other suitable arrangement; or (b) SMD (Surface Mount Device) LED packages of multiple elements including one red LED, one green LED, and one blue LED being closely grouped therein preferably in chevron (triangular alignment) style or other suitable arrangement.
2. There are odd and even lines of pixels. The even lines are horizontally offset from the odd lines to allow for tighter vertical pixel spacing while using either three individual (separate) red, green, blue LEDs or while using SMD LED packages according to 1. above.
3. The LED spacing within an individual LED (red, green, blue) style pixel or spacing from pixel-to-pixel can be flexible. Spacing of the LEDs may be compacted within the pixel to ease manufacturing and, as such, pixel boundaries can easily be visually seen and identified), or uniform spacing can be used to create an even fill-factor across the LED sign where the pixel boundaries blend together, preferably making it difficult to visually identify which individual LEDs belong with which pixel.
4. Pixel arrangements are scaleable as the pixel pitch between interleaved 3-in-1 SMD LED package pixels or separate red, green, blue SMD pixels is not limited to designs at 4 mm, 12.5 mm, 25 mm and the like, but can be implemented on any pitch between the pixels. This scaleability allows this invention to be used to develop a family of devices with a wide ranging offering of pixel spacing that can be used to build a sign format with the optimal viewing properties for any display applications.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there are provided pixel interleaving configurations for use in high definition electronic sign displays where each scanned pixel includes a full complement of colored LEDs including the colors of red, green, and blue.
One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an interleaved display where each scanned pixel includes red, green, and blue representation.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the offset of a succeeding line of pixels with a previous line of pixels.
Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the reduction in the number of LEDs required in an electronic sign display by the use of interleaving of pixels while still maintaining a balanced and full red, green, and blue color representation in each scan row, often referred to as full color rows of resolution.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the use of pure pixel display concepts instead of virtual or dynamic pixeling.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the use of full color row resolution which does not experience color shift, which upholds high image and color quality, and which maintains high definition capabilities.
A still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is that full color pixel content is provided for even use of the LEDs, whereby all LEDs age at an even rate.
A still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention decreases LED density while maintaining the number of full color resolution rows.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention prevents side angle color shift that occurs when LEDs are packed very closely together.
Having thus briefly described embodiments of the present invention and having mentioned some significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide pixel interleaving configurations for use in high definition electronic sign displays.
Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
For comparison,
Viewability involving the use of interleaved pixels is also considered where increased viewability is afforded the viewer from viewing positions other than straight-on views by the use of interleaved pixels. Some views which enhance viewability include horizontal side viewing positions from the side and front of the pixels. Other views which enhance viewability are offset downward or upward viewing positions which are angular to and in front of the pixels. Viewability of other than straight-on views is influenced by the spacing between LEDs comprising neighboring pixels where wide spacing between LEDs of neighboring pixels increases viewability. The use of closely arranged pixels of prior art devices somewhat hampers viewability of other than straight-on views because viewing of one LED is blocked by another LED which is in the same line of sight.
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Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope thereof.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/359,095 filed on Jan. 26, 2012, entitled “Pixel Interleaving Configurations For Use In High Definition Electronic Sign Displays,” which is pending, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/217,011 filed on Jul. 1, 2008, entitled “Pixel Interleaving Configurations For Use In High Definition Electronic Sign Displays,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,130,175 on Mar. 6, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/786,720 filed on Apr. 12, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,907,133 on Mar. 15, 2011, entitled “Pixel Interleaving Configuration for Use in High Definition Electronics Sign Displays,” the benefit of priority of each of which is claimed hereby, and each of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This patent application is related to patent application Ser. No. 11/642,221 filed on Dec. 20, 2006, entitled “LED Display Module”, which is pending, and which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 11/271,404 filed Nov. 10, 2005, entitled “Modular Display System”, which is pending.
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