CN111986569B

CN111986569B - Polymorphic image display

Info

Publication number: CN111986569B
Application number: CN202010434688.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗志光
Original assignee: Radius Digital Display Co
Current assignee: Radius Digital Display Co
Priority date: 2019-05-22
Filing date: 2020-05-21
Publication date: 2024-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-21
Also published as: CN111986569A

Abstract

A multi-state image display has a wall member with an array of fixtures and a plurality of cantilevered supports in a corresponding array. Each cantilevered support is mounted on the wall member and engages a corresponding one of the fixtures. The multi-state image display also includes surface topography elements, each surface topography element being supported for movement along a corresponding cantilevered support. Each surface topography element has an illumination device disposed thereon. The multi-state image display further includes linear actuators, each linear actuator being coupled to a corresponding surface topography element for reciprocating the surface topography element along a corresponding cantilevered support. Each cantilevered support includes an elongated channel member having a proximal end secured to a wall member. The channel member has a channel shape with an opening. The opening faces downward and receives a linear actuator. The illumination of the illumination means and the movement of the linear actuator are controlled by a control system for displaying the polymorphic image.

Description

Polymorphic image display

Technical Field

The present invention relates to multi-state image displays, i.e. displays having an image bearing display surface capable of presenting various forms.

Background

The multi-state image display has a matrix of computer-adjustable surface topography elements that together form a physical display surface capable of assuming a variety of temporary and/or permanent topographical shapes. They may be used to represent three-dimensional information or to enhance images formed on display surfaces having rich textures and topography.

WO2014144956A2 describes a multi-state image display for advertising comprising an upstanding matrix of substantially linear and horizontally reciprocating surface-contoured elements supported in a cantilever fashion. It will be appreciated that in such displays, a high degree of precision and reliability is required. The large gap between the surface topography elements reduces the visual effect of the display, but the close spacing required requires precise alignment and control of stroke and deflection. Although it is a vast assembly of reciprocating elements, if one of the elements is not movable upon command, a significant detrimental effect can occur. The difficulty in achieving the necessary reliability is increased by the fact that such displays are installed outdoors and thus are continually exposed to various factors. It is an object of the present invention to address the above-mentioned needs, or more generally, to provide an improved multi-state image display.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-state image display including:

a wall member having an array of fixtures;

a plurality of cantilevered supports, the plurality of cantilevered supports corresponding arrays, each cantilevered support mounted to the wall member and engaged with a corresponding one of the fixtures;

a plurality of surface contour elements, each surface contour element being supported for movement along a corresponding one of the cantilevered supports;

a lighting device disposed on each surface topography element;

a plurality of linear actuators, each linear actuator being connected to a corresponding surface contour element for reciprocating the surface contour element along a corresponding one of the cantilevered supports;

wherein the illumination of the illumination device and the movement of the linear actuator are controlled by a control system; and is also provided with

Wherein each cantilevered support comprises an elongate channel member having a proximal end secured to the wall member, the channel member having a channel shape with an opening facing downward, and the linear actuator being received in the opening.

Preferably, the wall member comprises a wall plate and the array of fixtures is integral with one side of the wall plate, each fixture having an alignment face adapted to abut a corresponding one of the cantilevered supports to accurately locate each cantilevered support in the plane of the wall plate.

Preferably, the array of fasteners is rectangular and the alignment surface is formed on one of a linear rib and a groove in the wall plate, wherein the one of a linear rib and a groove includes a first rib or groove and a second rib or groove that are mutually orthogonal.

Preferably, each cantilevered support further comprises a locating plate having opposite inner and outer sides respectively connected to the proximal end and to the opposite inner and outer sides of the wall plate, wherein the outer side comprises a linear groove or rib complementary to the linear rib or groove in the wall plate, wherein the linear rib or groove of the outer side comprises at least one first rib or groove and at least one second rib or groove substantially orthogonal to each other.

Preferably, the inner side of the locating plate further comprises lugs, each lug having a surface for abutting the channel member, wherein fasteners pass through the lugs to connect the locating plate to the channel member. Preferably, the lugs include a pair of opposed flange abutment lugs for abutting the flange and a web abutment lug for abutting the web.

Preferably, the channel member has an upstanding central plane of symmetry with flanges on opposite sides thereof connected by transverse webs, the opening extending between the flanges. Optionally, the channel member may further comprise one or more integral inner walls that cooperate with the web to form one or more hollow portions on the web side of the channel member.

Preferably, the channel member has a substantially constant cross-section throughout its length.

Preferably, each cantilevered support further comprises a rail secured to the channel member and a bracket supported on the rail, and the surface-contoured element is supported by the bracket during its reciprocation.

Preferably, the rail is fixed inside the opening, and the driving portion of the linear actuator is disposed outside the opening.

Preferably, the lighting device comprises a rectangular lighting device panel and the surface topography element comprises a rectangular prismatic frame, the rectangular lighting device panel being mounted on one side of the rectangular prismatic frame.

Preferably, in the retracted state of the surface profile element, the distal end of each cantilevered support is housed in the rectangular prism frame.

The present invention provides a multi-state image display that is effective and efficient in delivering multi-state visual effects. The multi-state image display is less prone to failure and damage and is therefore more reliable, as the cantilever support effectively protects the linear actuator from above, thereby reducing the exposure of the linear actuator to the environment (e.g., in outdoor applications, rain, snow, etc.). Costs and time associated with maintenance and servicing may be reduced. Down time required for maintenance and repair can also be reduced.

Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a multi-state image display according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a subassembly of the multi-state image display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a module of the subassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a channel member of the module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a locating plate of the module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a wall plate of the module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a high-level schematic diagram of a control system of the multi-state image display of FIG. 1; and

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the control system of fig. 8 for controlling a linear actuator.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the multi-state image display 10 of the present invention has an upright configuration comprising an array of surface topography elements 11, which may be in the form of rectangular prisms, each surface topography element being independently movable between a retracted position and an extended position to allow the display surface to be arranged in a variety of forms, such as the wave configuration of fig. 1. The outer end of each surface topography element 11 carries an illumination panel 12, in particular an LED board, and may provide color pixels of the display 10 which are controlled to produce static and dynamic images in a known manner, which images are enhanced by polymorphic effects, which are the result of the extension and retraction of the surface topography elements 11.

The display 10 is assembled from an array of subassemblies 16, each subassembly 16 in turn including an array of modules 19. The subassemblies 16 may be a 5 x 5 array of modules 19 (only two of which are shown in fig. 2). Structural support for display 10 may be provided by an upstanding structure 13, which may include an upstanding rectangular wall frame 15 to one side of which is secured a rectangular wall panel 14 of a subassembly 16. The wall plate 14 may be a unitary metal plate of a 5 x 5 array of mounting modules 19. The wall panels 14 serve as the base for each module 19 and the wall panels 14 may abut each other along edges when arranged across the upright structure 13. The outside of the wall plate 14 comprises fixtures 17 arranged in a 5 x 5 array and will be described in more detail below with reference to fig. 7, wherein each fixture 17 is used to position one module 19, in each module 19 one surface contour element 11 being mounted for movement along a respective cantilever support 18.

Referring to fig. 2-7, each surface contour element 11 is connected to a respective linear actuator 20 supported by a cantilevered support 18 for longitudinal reciprocation between a retracted position and an extended position (in fig. 2, one module 19 is shown in the retracted position and the other module is shown in the extended position). Similar to the display panel 12, the linear actuators 20 may be motorized and all connected to a computer control system, such as by power and data cables (not shown in fig. 3 and 4). The control system controls the movement of all of the linear actuators 20 and the content displayed by the display panel 12 so that they are synchronized.

The cantilevered support 18 includes a positioning plate 21 with an inner side 22 of the positioning plate 21 secured near a proximal end 23 of an elongate channel member 24. The channel member 24 has a substantially constant cross-section throughout its length, such as by extrusion. The two flanges 25, 26 of the channel member 24 are connected by a transverse web 27, with an opening 28 of the channel member 24 extending between the flanges 25, 26 and downwards. The channel member 24 has an upstanding central symmetry plane on opposite sides of which the flanges 25, 26 are located. The linear actuator 20 is housed in the opening 28 protected from rain and water ingress while still being accessible from below for inspection and maintenance. The channel member 24 may also include an integral inner wall 29, the inner wall 29 cooperating with the web 27 to form two longitudinal hollows 30, 31 on the web side of the channel member 24 and including a face 32 parallel to the web 27.

The opposite outer side 23 of the positioning plate 21 may have planar lateral faces 35 from which ribs 36, 37, 38 project, which are sized and arranged to be adapted to engage with grooves in the corresponding fixtures 17 of the wall plate 14. The ribs 36 and 37 may be parallel and intersect the rib 38 orthogonal thereto, thereby forming two cross-shaped protrusions 39, 40. The ribs 36, 37, 38 may be similarly shaped, each having opposed faces 41, 42, 43 that taper from the transverse face 35 to the coplanar face 43.

The inner side 22 of the positioning plate 21 further comprises lugs 44-47, each having a surface for abutting the channel member 24, wherein fasteners (not shown) connect the positioning plate 21 to the channel member 24 via the lugs 44-47. Lugs 44-47 may include a pair of opposed flange abutment lugs 44, 45 for abutting flanges 25, 26, and web abutment lugs 46, 47 for abutting web 27.

The linear actuator 20 may be a well-known screw type including an elongated track 49 axially aligned and parallel with an elongated lead screw 50. The carriage 57 for carrying the surface-contour element 11 is driven by a lead screw 50 which is mounted by means of linear bearings (not shown) to slide along the track 49. An internally threaded screw (not shown) on the carriage 57 engages the lead screw 50. The linear actuator 20 may include mounting brackets 51, 52 secured near each end of the track 49, which brackets are disposed against the face 32 and are thus secured by fasteners (not shown) in the openings 28 as the rotary drive 72 extends through the cavity 30. The linear actuator 20 may be powered by a rotary drive 72 that provides torque to the lead screw 50 and is mounted at one longitudinal end of the linear actuator 20. A recess 48 may be provided in the positioning plate 21, generally aligned with the opening 28, allowing the rotary drive 72 to extend therethrough.

An elongate tray 53 may be externally secured to one of the flanges 25, 26 of the channel member 24 to carry one end of a drag chain 54 that supports a power cable (not shown) for the display 22 during extension and retraction movements. The bracket 55 connects the other end of the traction chain 54 to the surface contour element 11.

The surface contour element 11 may include a T-shaped connector 56 secured at one end to a bracket 57 and extending laterally to connect between side plate assemblies 58, 59 forming opposite sides of the frame of the surface contour element 11. The upper side of the surface contour element 11 is closed by a top plate 60 opposite a bottom plate 61, while a panel mounting plate 62 at the front of the surface contour element 11 provides support for the illumination panel 12.

The wall plate 14 may include a 5 x 5 rectangular array of fixtures 17 disposed on one side of the wall plate 14, each fixture including a planar outer surface 63 concavely formed by grooves 64, 65, 66, the grooves 64, 65, 66 being complementary to the ribs 52, 53, 54 in the locating plate 21. Grooves 64 and 65 may be parallel and intersect groove 66 orthogonal thereto, thereby forming two cross-shaped grooves 67, 68. Grooves 64, 65, 66 may have similar shapes, each groove having opposed faces 69, 70 that taper from planar outer surface 63 toward coplanar face 71. The parallel grooves 64 and 65 of the fixtures 17 in each column of the array may be coaxial and extend from the top to the bottom of the wall plate 14, while the grooves 66 of the fixtures 17 in each row of the array may be coaxial and extend between opposite sides of the wall plate 14 so that they can be accurately and cost effectively formed, such as by CNC milling. The mutual abutment between the orthogonal tapered alignment faces 69, 70 locates each locating plate 21, and thus each attached cantilevered support 18, precisely in the plane of the wall plate 14.

Fig. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a network automation system of the multi-state image display 10 of fig. 1 and 2. The system includes a main server 73, the main server 73 using separate video and motion control files to control the images displayed by the display panel 12 and the movements for the linear actuators 20. The main server 73 communicates via a router 74 with a plurality of industrial controllers 75, which industrial controllers 75 may be CANopen devices, each industrial controller 75 being connected for controlling a set of linear actuators 76, 77, the led display controller 78 controlling all display panels 12. It will be appreciated that such an automated system may be easily scaled for different items depending on the size of the multi-state image display 10.

The control of the displayed image and the control of the movement of the linear actuator is based on the independent video and motion files that are preprocessed and pre-synchronized. When the operation begins, the video and motion files are played or applied independently and simultaneously to affect the displayed image and the position of the display panel. The video and motion files have the same run time and can be cycled to create a continuously operating polymorphic image display. In this case, the computer system 73 may periodically synchronize the start times of the two files (once every 5 cycles) to avoid accumulating any small lag or lead in timing coordination between the displayed image and the movement of the display panel.

Aspects of the present invention are described by way of example only, and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A multi-state image display, comprising:

a wall member having an array of fixtures;

an illumination panel disposed on each surface topography element;

wherein the illumination of the illumination panel and the movement of the linear actuator are controlled by a control system, and

2. The multi-state image display of claim 1, wherein the wall member comprises a wall plate, the array of fixtures being integral with one side of the wall plate, each fixture having an alignment face adapted to abut a corresponding one of the cantilevered supports to accurately position each cantilevered support in the plane of the wall plate.

3. The multi-state image display of claim 2, wherein the array of fixtures is rectangular and the alignment surface is formed on one of a linear rib and a groove in the wall plate, wherein the one of a linear rib and a groove comprises a first rib or groove and a second rib or groove that are orthogonal to each other.

4. A multi-state image display according to claim 3, wherein each cantilevered support further comprises a positioning plate having opposite inner and outer sides respectively connected to the proximal end and the wall plate, wherein the outer side comprises a linear rib or groove complementary to the linear rib or groove in the wall plate, wherein the outer side linear rib or groove comprises at least one first rib or groove and at least one second rib or groove substantially orthogonal to each other.

5. The multi-state image display of claim 4, wherein the inner side of the positioning plate further comprises lugs, each lug having a surface for abutting the channel member, wherein fasteners pass through the lugs to connect the positioning plate to the channel member.

6. The multi-state image display of claim 5, wherein the channel member has an upstanding central symmetry plane with flanges on opposite sides of the central symmetry plane connected by a transverse web, the opening extending between the flanges, the lugs including a pair of opposed flange abutment lugs for abutment with the flanges and a web abutment lug for abutment with the web.

7. A multi-state image display according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the channel member has an upstanding central plane of symmetry with flanges connected by transverse webs on opposite sides of the central plane of symmetry, the opening extending between the flanges.

8. The multi-state image display of claim 7, wherein the channel member further comprises one or more integral inner walls that cooperate with the web to form one or more hollows in the web side of the channel member.

9. A multi-state image display according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the channel member has a substantially constant cross-section throughout its length.

10. The multi-state image display of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each cantilevered support further comprises a rail fixed to the channel member and a bracket supported on the rail, and the surface-contoured element is supported by the bracket during its reciprocation.

11. The multi-state image display of claim 10, wherein the rail is fixed inside the opening, and the driving portion of the linear actuator is disposed outside the opening.

12. The multi-state image display of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the illumination panel comprises a rectangular illumination panel and the surface topography element comprises a rectangular prismatic frame, the rectangular illumination panel being mounted on one side of the rectangular prismatic frame.

13. The multi-state image display of claim 12, wherein in the retracted state of the surface topography element, a distal end of each cantilevered support is received in the rectangular prism frame.

14. The multi-state image display of any one of claims 1-6, further comprising the control system.