EP1515636A1 - Structure de protection modulaire pour affichage au sol - Google Patents

Structure de protection modulaire pour affichage au sol

Info

Publication number
EP1515636A1
EP1515636A1 EP03731574A EP03731574A EP1515636A1 EP 1515636 A1 EP1515636 A1 EP 1515636A1 EP 03731574 A EP03731574 A EP 03731574A EP 03731574 A EP03731574 A EP 03731574A EP 1515636 A1 EP1515636 A1 EP 1515636A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
floor
display
display system
assembly
floor display
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03731574A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ronald D. Blum
Dwight P. Duston
William Kokonaski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Intellimat Inc
Original Assignee
Intellimat Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intellimat Inc filed Critical Intellimat Inc
Publication of EP1515636A1 publication Critical patent/EP1515636A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L23/00—Cleaning footwear
    • A47L23/22—Devices or implements resting on the floor for removing mud, dirt, or dust from footwear
    • A47L23/26—Mats or gratings combined with brushes ; Mats
    • A47L23/266—Mats
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L23/00—Cleaning footwear
    • A47L23/22—Devices or implements resting on the floor for removing mud, dirt, or dust from footwear
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/13336—Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a floor display system, and more specifically to a modular protective structure for the floor display system.
  • a number of media are known for publicly conveying information, such as advertising information. Most commonly, such media utilize “vertical space.” That is, the media are typically such things as billboard displays, displays mounted on walls or ceilings, and displays on electronic devices such as television screens and computer monitor screens that are substantially vertical.
  • horizontal space includes floor space in areas of public traffic, such as commercial establishments or
  • the present disclosure relates to a modular structure for such a floor display.
  • advantages disclosed for such a structure are its effectiveness in protecting the display from damage associated with a floor environment, and its convenience in sizing the display (expanding or shrinking the area of the display).
  • a very thin form factor may be maintained for the modular structure.
  • FIG. 1 shows a floor display system comprising an electronic display assembly including a modular protective structure according to embodiments of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the floor display system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Figs. 3A and 3B show an enlarged view of a portion of the cross- section of Fig. 2;
  • Figs. 4-6 show three different views of an electronic display assembly according to embodiments of the invention received within a floor;
  • Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate increased segmentation of an electronic display assembly as compared to that illustrated in Figs. 1-6; and Figs. 9, 10, 11A, 11 B and 12 are plan views illustrating alternative embodiments for vertical supports of an electronic display system according to the invention.
  • Embodiments of the present invention relate to a floor display system.
  • the floor display system may be arranged in a public place, such as a commercial establishment or other public building, and be configured to display electronically modifiable arbitrary content, such as advertising or other informational content. Because of its environment when it is in use, the floor display system may be exposed to possible damage from the impacts of foot traffic, wheeled objects and the like. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a modular protective structure for the display that effectively distributes forces applied to the display among a system of vertical supports, to prevent forces from being focused in one place and thus possibly damaging the display. The modular structure may further provide for a very thin form factor for the floor display system. As noted above, U.S. 6,417,778 discloses a system for electronically conveying information via a floor display.
  • the floor display may incorporate a modifiable electronic display surface presenting for example, a liquid crystal display.
  • the display could be connected to a computer and a computer generated image could be displayed on the display.
  • the image displayed on the display could be modified by generating a different computer image and displaying that computer image on the display.
  • the display could be associated with a base portion of a floor covering, such as included within a recess thereof, or could be included on a bottom surface, facing upward, of an insert portion of the floor covering.
  • the display could be integrally formed with either of the base portion or the insert portion.
  • the modifiable display could utilize a plurality of different graphics that can be displayed in any of a variety of manners on the display. For example, the graphics could be displayed in a generally fixed position on the display or could scroll across the display, with both exemplary methodologies displaying multiple graphics either individually or in combination.
  • modifying graphics displayed on the floor covering include using light emitting polymers to create, and thus change, the graphics.
  • the light emitting polymers can be either applied to, attached to, or woven into the floor covering.
  • the light emitting polymers may be utilized on any portion of floor covering, for example, on either the base portion or the insert portion, or on any other portion of the different embodiments for the floor covering.
  • Light emitting polymers are known and described in U.S. Patents 5,945,502, 5,869,350, and 5,571 ,626, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • Electric paper is available from Xerox and is described in U.S. Patents 5,723,204, 5,604,027, 4,126,854, and 4,143,103, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • Electric paper employs thousands of tiny, electrically charged beads, called Gyricon, each about the width of a human hair, to create pixels.
  • the two-tone beads are embedded inside a liquid-filled plastic sheeting that forms the surface of the paper.
  • Electromagnetic styluses and printer-like devices can be used for getting images onto the paper.
  • Electronic ink is available from E Ink Corp., at 45 Spinelli PI., Cambridge, MA 02138.
  • Electronic ink uses a microencapsulated micromechanical display system. Tiny microcapsules are captured between two sheets of plastic to create pixels. Alternatively, the capsules may be sprayed on a surface. The result is a flexible display material. The tiny capsules are transparent and contain a mixture of dark ink and white paint chips. An electric charge is passed through the capsules. Depending on the electrostatic charge, the paint chips float at the top or rest on the bottom of each capsule. When the paint chips float at the top, the surface appears white. When they rest at the bottom, and thus under the ink, the surface appears black. Each of the two states is stable: black or white.
  • a transparent electromagnetic grid laid over the sheet's surface controls the shape of the image.
  • the display may be wirelessly connected to, for example, a computer and thus, the World Wide Web by utilizing, for example, a Motorola paging system. Text on all displays, if multiple displays are used, can be changed at once by a single editor, through a Web page.
  • a floor display system 100 includes an integrated electronic display assembly 120 associated with a floor covering 110. More specifically, the display assembly 120 may be at least partly connected to, supported by, received within or otherwise associated with the floor covering 110.
  • the floor covering 110 and associated electronic display assembly 120 may take many structural forms and be constructed from various types of materials, and are not limited to the specific forms illustrated herein.
  • the floor covering could include, for example, shoe-cleaning materials such as carpet, rubber, plastic and the like.
  • the floor covering 110 may be affixed to a floor or may be portable so that it can be easily moved to different places.
  • the floor covering 110 and electronic display assembly 120 are designed to be used in places where there is foot traffic or other (for example, wheeled shopping cart) traffic, such as entry ways to stores, public buildings or homes. In such environments, strong forces may be imparted to the floor covering and electronic display assembly. Accordingly, the floor covering and electronic display assembly may be sturdy and durable enough that they may be repeatedly stepped on, walked over, or have a wheeled shopping cart or other rolling or sliding object traverse them, with negligible adverse effect on the floor covering and display assembly.
  • foot traffic or other traffic for example, wheeled shopping cart
  • the floor covering and electronic display assembly may be sturdy and durable enough that they may be repeatedly stepped on, walked over, or have a wheeled shopping cart or other rolling or sliding object traverse them, with negligible adverse effect on the floor covering and display assembly.
  • the electronic display assembly 120 may comprise a plurality of display modules.
  • the invention is not limited to four display modules; there may be more or fewer.
  • a coherent display may be presented on the plurality of display modules. That is, while individual display modules may present only fragments of a display, in the aggregate the plurality of display modules may present a complete or unified display. For example, in Fig. 1 a coherent text message, "On Sale Today Only Men's Cotton T-Shirts", is displayed across the four modules, though each module individually only presents a portion of the complete message.
  • each of the modules could be configured to display unrelated images and/or text.
  • a display module may be an electronic display device incorporating any display technology, including those disclosed herein, and others not specifically disclosed.
  • a display module may be configured to electronically display graphical images and alphanumeric data in either a static (not moving or changing) or dynamic (e.g., scrolling or otherwise moving or changing) format.
  • a display module may be coupled by wired or wireless means to a controller (not shown) and modifiable via the controller to display any content chosen by a user.
  • a display module may be coupled to the controller via a display driver circuit such as a video graphics adapter card.
  • the controller may include any kind of electronic logic circuit, for example, a general microprocessor configurable with software, or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).
  • a driver of a display module may be integrated with the controller or built into an ASIC.
  • the controller may also be in the form of a single board computer with a processor and memory and with one or more display driving circuits built onto the board, as well as wireless components for communicating with the outside world or for loading data into memory.
  • the controller may be coupled to a storage medium, which could be any form of medium suitable for storing digital data, including RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), flash or other non-volatile solid- state electronic storage, EEPROM (electronically erasable and programmable read only memory), or magnetic and/or optical disk storage.
  • the storage medium may store, for example, control software for execution by the controller and video content of choice for display, under the control of the control software, by a display module.
  • display modules of an assembly 120 may be arranged within separate protective enclosures comprising a bottom member, a top member, and vertical supports or sidewalls.
  • elements of the protective enclosures may be common to the display modules; for example, the protective enclosures may have a common top member, bottom member, and one or more common sidewalls.
  • each display module may have a separate protective enclosure with a distinct bottom member, top member and sidewalls.
  • Fig, 2 shows a cross-section of the floor display system 100 along line 2-2.
  • the floor covering 110 may comprise tapered sections or inclined surfaces 145 to create a smooth transition from a central portion of the floor covering, which may be configured to receive the display assembly 120, to the floor.
  • Such inclined surfaces may make the floor covering easier to cross over, either by a person walking over the floor covering, or by a wheeled shopping cart, for example, if the floor covering is placed in the aisles of a commercial establishment.
  • Fig. 3A shows an enlargement of an area from Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 3A shows more details of a cross-sectional view that includes display modules 125 and 135, and illustrating protective enclosures according to embodiments of the invention.
  • the display modules 135, 125 may be arranged within separate protective enclosures comprising a common bottom member 170, a common top member 165, and vertical support members or sidewalls 150, 155 and 160, with 155 being a common sidewalk
  • the protective enclosures in addition to being configured to receive the display modules, may provide volumes 175 and 180 between the top layer 165 and display modules 135, 125, respectively.
  • the volumes may, for example, be empty space to avoid transferring shocks to the top member to the display modules.
  • the top layer 165 could be formed from a clear material, for example, PlexiglassTM, plastic or glass, to allow viewing of the display modules.
  • the bottom layer 170 may rest on a backing layer 190 of the floor covering.
  • the backing layer may be integrally formed with the floor covering.
  • the bottom layer 170 of the protective modular enclosures could be in direct contact with the floor.
  • Fig. 3B Such an embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 3B.
  • display module 135 has a separate protective enclosure formed by bottom member 170.1 , vertical supports 150 and 155.1 , and top member 165.1. A volume 175 between the top member 165.1 and display module 135 may be provided.
  • display module 125 has a separate protective enclosure formed by bottom member 170.2, vertical supports 155.2 and 160, and top member 165.2. A volume 180 between the top member 165.2 and display module 125 may be provided.
  • the vertical supports and bottom members of the protective enclosures could be made from materials including, for example, plastic, metal, glass or wood.
  • the structures provide excellent protection for the display modules from pressures and impacts applied to the assembly 120, at least in part because the pressures and impacts are shared by a system of vertical supports distributed across the assembly: i.e., vertical supports, for example, 150, 155 and 160 and vertical supports arranged transversely to these, as can be seen in Fig. 1 and subsequent figures.
  • vertical supports distributed across the assembly: i.e., vertical supports, for example, 150, 155 and 160 and vertical supports arranged transversely to these, as can be seen in Fig. 1 and subsequent figures.
  • the pressures and impacts are not concentrated in any particular spot, but are instead distributed and diffused among the various members forming the protective enclosures.
  • An area of the floor covering 110 could be configured to receive a display assembly 120 within, for example, a recess or opening of some predetermined size. Display modules could removed from or added to the assembly to increase or decrease the display area within the bounds of the recess or opening. Alternatively, display modules of a given size could be replaced with a greater number of smaller modules and associated protective enclosures, to increase the number of vertical supports within the same area, as described in greater detail further on. On the other hand, display modules of a given size could be replaced with a smaller number of larger modules. Display modules removed from the assembly could be replaced with other materials of like dimensions in order to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the floor display system.
  • the top member of the protective enclosures could be removable, to give access to the display modules, which could also be removable.
  • selected display modules could be removed from their respective protective enclosures and replaced with, for example, "blanks" made of the same material as the floor covering and sized to fill the space within the protective enclosure, to prevent an unsightly gap.
  • blades made of the same material as the floor covering and sized to fill the space within the protective enclosure, to prevent an unsightly gap.
  • a protective enclosure as a unit could be removable and replaced with a section of some other material.
  • a display assembly 120 need not be associated with a floor covering 110. Instead, as shown in Figs. 4-6, the display assembly 120 could be received with a recess in a floor 410.
  • Embodiments of the present invention may, in particular, provide for a display assembly thickness of less than 1 inch, with a preferred thickness of less than 0.5 inch.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates increasing an overall display area while preserving structural integrity by increasing segmentation. More specifically, in Fig. 8, an overall area of the display assembly 120 is approximately twice that shown in Figs. 1 and 7, enabling more information to be displayed, while structural integrity is preserved by increasing the number of display modules 810 and associated protective enclosures.
  • Fig. 9 shows a top or plan view of the display assembly 120 discussed in connection with Figs. 1-3B. In Fig. 9 it can be seen that the vertical supports 150, (or 155.1 , 155.2) and 160 may form, either as a unitary structure or a composite structure (e.g. if the modular protective enclosures are separate and distinct), a "beam" vertical support: i.e., a continuous member that extends across substantially the entirety of the display area. Member 900 is a transverse beam vertical support.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment utilizing vertical supports that do not extend continuously across the display area as beams. Instead, columns 1000 are used as vertical supports, as opposed to continuous beams. This kind of construction could be more economical with materials.
  • the columns 1000 are shown as small circles in the view of Fig. 10, corresponding to cylindrical support columns, but the support columns could be any shape.
  • the display modules may have apertures formed therein configured to receive vertical supports.
  • display modules 125, 130, 135 and 140 could have apertures 1001 formed therein configured to receive vertical supports 1000.
  • the vertical supports 1000 are shown as round columns by way of example, but could take other shapes: for example, columns or blocks of material that are square or rectangular in cross-section, or any other kind of discontinuous projection configured to be received within a corresponding aperture in a display module.
  • the vertical supports 1000 When received within apertures of a display module, the vertical supports 1000 may project beyond an upper surface of the display module to support a top protective member of a protective enclosure and provide a volume of space between the top member and the module, as described above.
  • a protective structure utilizing features as illustrated by way of example in Figs. 11A and 11B may allow for a substantially thin top member or members for a protective enclosure or enclosures of the display assembly 120, since the structure provides for distributed vertical supports for the top member across the assembly as described above. Moreover, such a structure could be used with a single or unitary display device as opposed to modular display devices such as 125, 130, etc. This is shown in Fig. 12, where reference number 1100 indicates a single display device as opposed to an assembly of display modules.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)

Abstract

Des modes de réalisation de cette invention concernent un système d'affichage au sol possédant une structure de protection modulaire destinée à empêcher des dégâts causés au système d'affichage à cause de son utilisation dans un environnement au sol. Cette structure de protection modulaire peut être conçue pour fournir un système distribué de supports verticaux (150, 155, 160) destinés à absorber et diffuser des pressions et des chocs sur le système d'affichage au sol.
EP03731574A 2002-06-05 2003-06-05 Structure de protection modulaire pour affichage au sol Withdrawn EP1515636A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38557902P 2002-06-05 2002-06-05
US385579P 2002-06-05
PCT/US2003/017812 WO2003103470A1 (fr) 2002-06-05 2003-06-05 Structure de protection modulaire pour affichage au sol

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1515636A1 true EP1515636A1 (fr) 2005-03-23

Family

ID=29736102

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03731574A Withdrawn EP1515636A1 (fr) 2002-06-05 2003-06-05 Structure de protection modulaire pour affichage au sol

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1515636A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2005528658A (fr)
CN (1) CN100496374C (fr)
AU (1) AU2003240559A1 (fr)
HK (1) HK1088198A1 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA04011961A (fr)
WO (1) WO2003103470A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202006008751U1 (de) * 2006-06-02 2007-10-11 Mücke, Daniel Anzeigegerät, insbesondere LED-Bodendisplay
JP4962120B2 (ja) * 2007-04-27 2012-06-27 パナソニック株式会社 ディスプレイ装置
JP5002691B2 (ja) * 2010-08-23 2012-08-15 シャープ株式会社 フロア型マルチディスプレイ装置及びフロア型マルチディスプレイ装置設置用フロア構造

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06299682A (ja) * 1993-04-13 1994-10-25 Jiyonsuton:Kk 床パネル
JPH0736395A (ja) * 1993-07-16 1995-02-07 Toray Ind Inc 光ガイドおよび表示物
US5805117A (en) * 1994-05-12 1998-09-08 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Large area tiled modular display system
JP2709801B2 (ja) * 1995-03-02 1998-02-04 株式会社明拓システム 床面照明表示装置
RU2259803C2 (ru) * 1999-05-04 2005-09-10 Тек Мэтс Ллс Усовершенствованный напольный коврик
JP2002062832A (ja) * 2000-08-16 2002-02-28 Nippon Signal Co Ltd:The 床埋め込み表示装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO03103470A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003103470A1 (fr) 2003-12-18
HK1088198A1 (en) 2006-11-03
AU2003240559A1 (en) 2003-12-22
CN1728964A (zh) 2006-02-01
MXPA04011961A (es) 2005-03-31
JP2005528658A (ja) 2005-09-22
CN100496374C (zh) 2009-06-10

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