1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to light emitting apparatuses and light emitting systems. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an improved light emitting apparatus with pixels for use in various industries.
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 can 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 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.
As such, there may be a requirement at an event or within a theatrical production to use a display system that is easily removable, for example, in between scenes of a play or as the needs of the production may dictate. 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, issued to Tokimoto et al.
Tokimoto et al 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 et al. For example, maintaining the system within the void is complicated. The system disclosed by Tokimoto et al 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.
Another requirement for display systems used for events, such as theatrical productions, is for the display to take up a minimal amount of storage space when stored. In addition, there is a need for a display system that is easily and quickly configurable to multiple sizes and shapes, thereby allowing the system to suit different installations and logistical constraints. To meet this need, flexible substrate based displays have been created, in which the light emitting elements are incorporated into a webbing or fabric curtain. Examples of these prior art displays are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,850, U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,801, U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,918, UK Patent No. GB 2,277,797 and UK Patent No. GB 2,330,196. Prior art systems of this kind, constrain the user to a fixed and specific pixel spacing in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, or both. None of these systems are completely and independently configurable in all dimensions. In addition, all these prior art systems require a specific supporting structure of some kind. For example, the supporting structure may be a grid support, a trussing support, or the display may be affixed to a building. As such, these systems may be limited to riot intrinsically and separately attach to an existing and unmodified structure. Accordingly, there exists a need for a display apparatus and a display system that improves upon these prior art displays for continued development and success within the various light emitting industries.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a light emitting pixel module comprising a pixel support disposed on a support structure, and a light emitting element and a electrical connector disposed upon the pixel support, wherein the support structure is removeably attached to a display surface of a substrate such that light emitted from the light emitting element is viewable from or through the substrate.
In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a light emitting display system including a plurality of light emitting pixel modules, each of the plurality of light emitting pixel modules including, a support structure removeably attached to a display surface, a light emitting element mounted on a pixel support, the pixel support disposed on the support structure, and an electrical connector disposed on the pixel support, wherein the plurality of the light emitting pixel modules are arranged in a configurable display on the display surface.
In yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of attaching a light emitting element to a display surface including providing a pixel module having a light emitting element disposed on a pixel support and the pixel support mounted on a support structure, and removeably attaching the pixel module to the display surface such that light emitted from the light emitting element is viewable from the display surface.
Further, in yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of manufacturing a pixel module including electrically connecting and attaching a light emitting element and an electrical connector to a pixel support, and attaching the pixel support to a support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to be removeably attached to a display surface.
Furthermore, in yet another aspect, embodiment disclosed herein relate to a light emitting pixel module including a pixel support disposed on a support structure, and a light emitting element and an electrical connector disposed upon the pixel support, wherein the support structure comprises one of a suction cup, an adhesive support structure, a mechanical support structure, a static cling support structure, and a magnetic support structure, and wherein the support structure is removeably attached to a display surface.
Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
Specific embodiments of the present invention 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.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to display units and particularly to the design of a pixel support mechanism (e.g., light emitting pixel module) for a configurable display system. The pixel support mechanism may provide both support and alignment of an individual light emitting element or group of light emitting elements. Further, the pixel support mechanism may include a support structure that allows the pixel support mechanism to be removeably or permanently attached to a substrate. As used herein, a “support structure” refers to any structure or device which may be, removeably or permanently, attached or secured to a surface or substrate. Furthermore, a group of pixel support mechanisms may be used to form a display system that is simple and quick to assemble or reconfigure in all dimensions.
In addition, the at least one light emitting element 103 may also include, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), polymer LEDs (PLEDs), incandescent lamps, or any other lighting elements known in the art. Therefore, in one embodiment, the at least one light emitting element 103 may include a plurality of LEDs such that light of a desired color may be emitted from each light emitting element 103. For example, the lighting elements 103 may include light emitting diodes with each diode having the same color. Further, the lighting elements 103 may include light emitting diodes, with each diode having a different color.
In one embodiment, such as
The electrical connector may be a spring connector, an insulation displacement connector, or any other electrical connectors known in the art. The electrical connector is configured to transfer a data signal and power to the at least one light emitting element of the pixel module. For example, the electrical connector may be used to electrically connect the at least one light emitting element to a power supply (not shown). As such, the power supply may transfer a data signal and/or power through a wire or circuit board that may be received by the electrical connector 204. The power received by the electrical connector 204 may then be transmitted through a circuit board or electrical wires within the light emitting element to emit light. In addition, a driver circuit may be electrically connected to the light emitting elements and configured to vary an intensity of at least one light emitting element.
For example, in one embodiment, the at least one light emitting element of the pixel module 200 may be disposed on and electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB). In such an embodiment, the PCB may be disposed within the pixel support of the light emitting pixel module, in which the light emitting element may be disposed upon and electrically connected to the PCB. Further, the electrical connector may be electrically connected to the PCB. As such, the data signals and/or power received by the electrical connector may be transmitted through the PCB to the light emitting element, thereby enabling control of the light emitting element (e.g., selectively turn on or off, vary light intensity or color) with the data signal and power.
Referring back to
Further, in this embodiment, the pixel support 302 faces “inwards” so that, when viewing from side A of the pixel module 300, light emitted from a light emitting element 303 mounted upon the pixel support 302 may be viewable. Side A is the side of the pixel module 300 which is configured to attach or secure to the display surface of the substrate. However, in an alternate embodiment, the pixel module 302 may face “outwards,” when viewing from side B of the pixel module 300, which may allow light emitted from the at least one light emitting element 303 mounted upon the pixel support 302 to be viewable.
For example, in
Further, in an alternate embodiment, rather than having an adhesive support structure or a suction cup, or in addition to the adhesive support structure and the suction cup, the support structure 701 may include a magnetic support structure, in which the magnetic support structure attaches to a display surface or substrate through a magnetic force. For example, in
Furthermore, in yet another alternate embodiment, rather than having a suction cup, an adhesive support structure, or a magnetic support structure, the support structure may include a static cling support structure, in which the static cling support structure attaches to a display surface or substrate through a static cling (i.e., static electricity) force. For example, in
Further, in an alternate embodiment, the mechanical support structure 911 may include a plurality of grip hooks that may be attached to the substrate 909. For example, in another embodiment, the mechanical structure 911 may include Velcro® hooks and the substrate 909 may include a material configured to attach to or receive the Velcro® hooks, such as a plurality of loops (e.g., felt or any other similar material known in the art). In such an embodiment, the Velcro® hooks of the mechanical support structure 911 may then be removeably attached to the substrate 909. Furthermore, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other methods known in the art may be used to attach a pixel module to a substrate or a display surface using a mechanical support structure.
In select embodiments disclosed herein, the pixel module may be attached to various substrates to allow the light from the light emitting elements mounted on the pixel support to be visible through or on the surface of the substrate as required so as to be visible from one side, the other side, or both sides of the substrate. For example, the substrates may be transparent, opaque, or translucent. Further, the substrate may be colored.
In select embodiments disclosed herein, the support structure may be constructed of different materials including, but not limited to, PVC, silicone rubber, plastic, polyethylene, or any other suitable material known in the art. Further, in select embodiments the support structure may be transparent, opaque, or translucent. Furthermore, in select embodiments, the support structure may be colored, have designs printed, or incorporated into its surface.
Further, in one embodiment, the pixel system 820 may include a plurality of pixel modules 800 that are attached to the display surface of the substrate using various methods and support structures discussed above. For example, one pixel module may be attached to the display surface with a suction cup and one pixel module may be attached using an adhesive support structure. Thus, the various methods and support structures may be used in combination with one another within the pixel system.
Although various detailed and exemplary embodiments disclosed herein have been described above for purposes of illustration, the embodiments disclosed herein are not so limited. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other shapes, sizes, construction, and configurations of the pixel modules, support structure, pixel supports, light emitting elements, and connectors may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Advantageously, embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more of the following advantages. First, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a light emitting pixel module that may be removeably attached to a substrate. As such, this enables the light emitting module to be easily disattached and then reattached to another location on the substrate. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a light emitting pixel module that may be mounted to many different types, shapes, and sizes of display surfaces. Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a light emitting display system that is quickly and easily configurable or reconfigurable so as to be arranged or rearranged as necessary.
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 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/868,283 filed on Dec. 1, 2006 and entitled “Pixel Support System” in the name of Chris Varrin.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US07/86168 | 11/30/2007 | WO | 00 | 9/4/2009 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60868283 | Dec 2006 | US |