EP1892691B1 - Display device and display method for presenting optical contents - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a set of display units (12) e.g. LED, connected with carrier units (13) arranged in rows (14), and a carrier rail (16) for mechanical fastening of the carrier units and for supplying the display units with an electrical voltage and control signals. The rows of the display units partially extend from the carrier rail into directions (18, 20). The carrier units are connected with the carrier rail by a charging unit (22). The rows of the display units run parallel to each other. The carrier rail runs in horizontal direction. An independent claim is also included for a display method for the presentation of optical contents.

Description

The invention relates to a display device, as well as a display method for the presentation of optical content, especially at major events.

At large events, such as music events or sporting events usually very large display devices are used for the presentation of optical content. These optical contents may include, for example, text, images, videos, optical effects, or the like. As a rule, such display devices are designed as LED wall. In this case, a single LED or, in the case of color representations, an RGB group of LEDs represents a pixel, with a large number of pixels forming an overall image. In most cases, the LEDs are arranged in rows vertically one below the other, with a plurality of vertical rows arranged horizontally next to each other to form an LED wall. Depending on how many rows are arranged side by side, or how long the individual rows are, the overall size of the LED wall can be changed. This makes it possible to adapt the display device to the particular needs of the event. At major events such LED walls can have a height and width of several meters.

The control of the individual pixels is usually digital, for example by DMX or DVI signals.

EP 1 635 310 A2 describes such a display device, wherein the individual rows of display elements in tubular transparent Carrier elements are arranged, which are connected to a frame. The support elements are removable from the frame. By combining several frames together, it is possible to design larger display elements.

Such an arrangement has the disadvantage that the shape of the display device depends on the shape of the frame parts used. It is thus not possible to make the shape of the display device flexible. Furthermore, it is necessary to secure the frame parts. For this purpose, eyelets are provided on their upper side, on which, for example, the uppermost frame part can be suspended. This requires a horizontally extending support bar, which must run over the top frame member. The shape of the upper edge of the display device is thus determined by the course of this support bar and also can not be made flexible.

EP 1 293 955 A2 describes a display device, wherein the individual display elements are arranged in a support frame and a plurality of such support frame can be movably connected to each other by flexible elements. The entire display device is suspended on the upper side via a suspension device on a rail.

Such a display device also detects the disadvantages of the display device EP 1 635 310 A2 so that their outer contour can not be flexibly adapted to local conditions.

US 2003/0146882 A1 describes a display device that consists of a plurality of display units that can be connected to each other, so that the size of the display device can be changed. The display units are square and all have the same shape, so that the display device can be assembled in the form of a matrix.

DE 695 19 380 T2 describes a display system in which a display element row at an input, a control signal is supplied, which is redirected at the end of the first display element row in the direction of the input of the second display element row. Starting from the input of the second display element row, the control signal runs in the direction of the end of the second display element row, from where it is redirected again in the direction of the beginning of a further row of display elements. The described method repeats until the control signal is supplied to a signal output.

DE 100 64 534 describes a sun blind with horizontal or vertical slats on which display elements are mounted in the form of LEDs. The lamellae are mechanically fastened in a window opening by means of a fastening arrangement. Through several such display devices, a large display can be built.

US 2002/0126064 describes an LED display wall with a plurality of base elements. At the top of the base elements parallel LED tubes are inserted. The base elements are connected to each other via connecting elements.

The object of the invention is to provide a display device whose size and outer contour can be easily adapted to the local conditions. It is another object of the invention to provide a display method for the presentation of optical content, which allows a simple and quick adjustment of the size and the outer contour of a display device.

The object is achieved by the features of the device claim 1, and by the features of the method claim 21.

A display device for the presentation of optical content at major events has a plurality of display elements that with Carrier elements are connected. The display elements are arranged in rows. Furthermore, the display device has a carrier rail for the mechanical fastening of the carrier elements and for supplying the display elements with electrical voltage and with control signals. In this case, the rows of display elements extend at least partially in several directions, starting from the carrier rail.

This makes it possible to easily adapt the size and the outer contour of the display device to the particular requirements of an event. For example, the rows of display elements, starting from a horizontally arranged carrier rail, can extend vertically upwards and vertically downwards. The length of each row of display elements can thereby be adapted individually, wherein the length can be different at a number of display elements, starting from the support rail down from the length of the row of display elements of the support rail upwards.

According to the invention, the display element rows have different lengths.

Since the display device is no longer suspended on a rail from above, also the upper outer contour of the display device can be made flexible and individual. In particular, it is possible to set design accents by an uneven or asymmetrical design of the outer contour of the display device. The support elements with which the display elements are connected, inter alia, also perform a static function, so that the display elements, starting from the support rail against gravity, and possibly occurring wind forces are supported. Furthermore, the support elements can be designed such that they completely surround the display elements, so that protection against the effects of the weather, for example rain, is also ensured.

In particular, no further supporting element for the display device is required in addition to the support rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier elements are connected to the carrier rail via a feed element. This feed element serves on the one hand the mechanical connection of the carrier elements with the carrier rail. On the other hand, the display elements on the carrier elements are electrically connected to the carrier rail by the feed element.

For this purpose, the carrier rail can have voltage supply contacts, as well as control signal supply contacts for supplying the display elements. These contacts of the carrier rail can with the feed element be connected, which in turn has electrical lines and electrical contacts for passing the electrical voltage and the control signals to the display elements.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an end cap for signal deflection of the control signals is attached to the end of the rows of display elements. It is particularly preferred to attach this end cap at both ends of the rows of the display elements.

The control signals for the display elements may comprise a serial data signal. Furthermore, the control signals may comprise DMX or DVI signals. It is particularly preferred that the display elements, in particular each display element have a control chip, which processes the control signals.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the feed element, on its side directed towards the viewer, likewise has a display element, in particular a multiplicity of display elements. This ensures that there is no gap in the displayed image due to the feed element.

Furthermore, it is preferred that a connection device for mechanical connection with the support elements and for electrical connection to the display elements is arranged between the feed element and the support elements.

The display elements may be, for example, LEDs and / or LED clusters. An LED cluster can be designed, for example, such that a plurality of LEDs are arranged on a carrier device.

Each individual LED may have a separate control chip. It is also possible that an LED cluster has only one chip for several LEDs. These LEDs are then driven within the LED cluster either individually or jointly by the control chip.

For a color representation, a display element can in particular have three LEDs in the colors red, green and blue. These three LED's represent an image pixel, wherein the total image is composed of a plurality of pixels.

Particularly preferably, a carrier element is connected to a plurality of display elements. For example, it is possible to connect a larger number (10, 20, 30, etc.) of LEDs to a support member. Preferably, the display elements are arranged in rows on the carrier elements. Such a support element may have a standard size of a few centimeters, so that a plurality of support elements can be assembled in the desired length to a series of display elements.

Furthermore, it is possible to mechanically connect a plurality of support elements or a plurality of rows of display elements at a location other than a carrier rail, so that they are combined to form a unit. The control of the individual display element rows is still done separately. The combined display element rows form display panels, which can be assembled into an overall image. The mechanical connection of the individual display element rows can be carried out at any point.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide connecting elements for the electrical and mechanical connection of the carrier elements. These connecting elements may be formed, for example, as a bayonet closure.

It is particularly preferred to form the carrier elements tubular. In this case, a tubular carrier element have a circular cross-section, however, it may also be elliptical or angular. On the side facing the viewer, the support elements are transparent, it must be noted in a square support element that no corners are present on the transparent side, which could falsify the resulting image by refraction.

The carrier rail can run in horizontal as well as in an oblique direction at any angle to the horizontal. Furthermore, it is possible to align the carrier rail vertically.

The optical content presentation method according to the invention is particularly suitable for operating a display device as described above, but can also be used in conjunction with other display devices.

In this case, the control signals are conducted starting from the carrier rail via the feed element in a direction of a display element row. At a first end of the display element row, the signals are redirected towards a second end of the display element row by a first end cap. At the second end of the display element row, the signals are deflected by a second end cap in the direction of the carrier rail and returned there via the feed element in the carrier rail.

It is particularly preferred that the supply of the display elements with control signals via a control signal line between the first and the second end cap. Thus, on the way the control signals starting from the carrier rail in the direction of the first end cap of the display elements still no control signals are tapped. Only after the deflection of the control signals by the first end cap adjacent to the first end cap display element seizes the specific control signal and passes the control signals for the following display elements continue to this. The picking up of the control signals is controlled by the control chip on each display element.

This process continues until the control signal has reached the first display element of the feed element. The control chip of the display element of the feed element can now be used to automatically determine how many display elements are located in the display element row between the first end cap and the feed element.

Subsequently, the control signal is forwarded by further display elements in the direction of the second end cap and deflected by this in the direction of the support rail. Due to the returning control signal to the carrier rail can now be determined how many display elements are in the display element row between the second end cap and the feed element.

For example, it is possible, starting from a horizontally oriented carrier rail, to guide the control signal vertically upwards along a row of display elements, wherein at the upper end of the display element row the control signal is deflected by the first end cap and directed downwards. On this way down, the individual display elements access the particular control signal intended for them. After, as described above, the number of display elements has been determined, which are arranged starting from the support rail up and down, carried by a second end cap at the bottom of the display element row deflecting the control signal upward, in the direction of the carrier rail.

Thus, the length of a display element row can be determined starting from the carrier rail in both directions. This process is repeated for all display element rows, so that the outer contour of the display device due to the respective number of between the Infeed element and the first and the second end cap of each indicator element located display elements can be determined. This process must take place only once after construction of the display device, so that the size and outer contour of the display device is determined. Unless the display device is changed, it is not necessary to repeat this operation while operating the display device.

The inventive method, it is possible to make the size and outer contour of the display device flexible and easy to change. The configuration of the display device is carried out automatically. For example, the exact position and the number of LED pixels can be displayed on a PC, so that an exact transmission of the image content is possible.

In particular, it is possible to arbitrarily design the outer contour of the display device without making the configuration of the display device more difficult.

Alternatively, it is possible to manually configure the display device.

To allow shorter current paths to the display elements, these are supplied from the support rail not via the end caps, but directly with electrical voltage.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to figures.

Fig. 1

ein Frontansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Anzeigevorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Anzeigevorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine Rückansicht des Einspeiselements,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der Trägerschiene mit Einspeiseelement, und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht der Außenkontur der Anzeigevorrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a front view of the display device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a side view of the display device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a rear view of the feed element,

Fig. 4

a side view of the carrier rail with feed element, and

Fig. 5

a schematic view of the outer contour of the display device.

Fig. 1 shows a display device 10, for the presentation of optical content with a plurality of display elements 12, which are connected to carrier elements and arranged in rows 14. The display device 10 has a carrier rail 16 for the mechanical fastening of the carrier elements 13 and for supplying the display elements 12 with electrical voltage and with control signals. The rows 14 of the display elements 12 extend from the carrier rail 16 both vertically upwards 18, and vertically downwards 20. The carrier rail 16 in this case extends substantially horizontally 24. The carrier elements 13 are connected to the carrier rail 16 via a feed element 22. This points according to Fig. 3 electrical lines 28 and electrical contacts for passing on the electrical voltage, and electrical lines 30 and electrical contacts for passing the control signals from the carrier rail 16 to the display elements 12 on. According to Fig. 4 has the carrier rail spring contacts 26 for control signal and power supply of the display elements 12. These spring contacts 26 are connected to the lines 28, 30 of the feed element 22.

The feed elements 22 are according to Fig. 2 Connected via connecting elements 48 with the support elements 13. The connecting elements 48 in this case produce both a mechanical and an electrical connection to the carrier elements 13, wherein these in turn are electrically connected to the display elements 12.

At the upper end 40 of each display element row 14, a first end cap 36 is attached, while at the lower end 42 of each display element row 14, a second end cap 38 is mounted.

On the side facing the viewer 44 of the feed element 22 display elements 12 are also attached. In this case, as with the other display elements 12, these may also be LEDs or LED clusters. The LED elements 12 are connected by retaining clips 27 with the feed element 22. Each LED element has its own control chip, which has a serial controller.

The support elements 13 are circular tubes that completely surround the LED elements, so that they are protected from the weather. In addition, the carrier elements 13 fulfill a static support function, so that no further fastening device for the display element rows 14 is necessary except for the carrier rail 16. Due to the proper design of the tubular support members 13, it is possible to provide LED walls having a height of several meters.

In addition, it is possible, for example, on the upper side of the display element rows 14 to provide a stiffening element 17, by which the display element rows 14 are supported against each other. This serves to stiffen the construction, but not a suspension of the display device 10th

In the method according to the invention, the display device 10 is supplied via the carrier rail 16 with voltage and with control signals. The supply of control signals takes place in such a way that they are conducted from the carrier rail 16 via the feed element 22 in the vertical direction upwards 18 via a first control signal line 32. At the first end 40 of the display element row 14, the control signals are passed through the first End cap 36 deflected toward a second end 42 of the display element row 14 and passed over a second control signal line 34 in the direction of the feed element 22. The second control signal line 34 may be formed on the display elements 12 or the carrier elements 13. After being deflected by the first end cap 36, the first display element 12a disposed adjacent to the first end cap 36 picks up the control signal for this first display element 12a and forwards the control signals for the following display elements 12 thereto.

The display elements 12 of the feed element 22 also receive their control signals via the second control signal line 34, which starts from the first end cap 36.

On the basis of the incoming control signals at the feed element 22 is automatically determined by the control chip of the uppermost display element 12 of the feed element 22, how many display elements 12 are in the display element row 14 between the first end cap 36 and the feed element 22.

In the further course, the control signals are forwarded in the direction of the second end 42 of the display element row 14. In this case, the display elements 12 also access the control signals intended for them in each case and pass on the control signals for the remaining display elements 12 to them,

At the second end 42 of the display element row 14, the control signals are deflected by the second end cap 38 in the direction of the support rail 16.

Based on the return from the second end cap 38 to the support rail 16 control signal is automatically determined how many display elements 12 are in the display element row 14 between the end cap 38 and the feed element 22. Subsequently, the Control signals fed back via the feed element 22 in the carrier rail 16.

Due to the respective number of display elements 12 located between the feed element 22 and the first 36 and the second 38 end cap of each display element row 14, the outer contour 46 of the display device 10 is now determined. This can, as in Fig. 5 be transferred to a PC, so that the exact location and the exact number of LED elements can be recorded. This allows an exact transfer of the image content to the display device.

In order to avoid longer current paths, the display elements 12 are supplied with electrical voltage starting from the carrier rail 16 in the direction of the first 36 and the second 38 end cap via a voltage supply line 28, without the current being first conducted via the end caps 36, 38.

The display element rows 14 are usually arranged parallel to each other and can, as in Fig. 5 shown, have different lengths. This makes a very individual and flexible design of the outer contour and size of the LED wall possible.

Furthermore, the display element rows 14 can be arranged at a distance from one another, so that a free space 19 is created between the individual display element rows 14. Since the LED wall 10 may have very large dimensions, it offers a large wind attack surface, if it is placed outdoors. By providing free spaces 19 between the display element rows 14, the wind susceptibility of the LED wall 10 is reduced.

Claims (28)

1. A display device for the presentation of optical content at big events, comprising
   a plurality of display elements (12) arranged in rows (14) and connected with carrier elements (13), and
   a carrier rail (16) for the mechanical fastening of the carrier elements (13) and for the supply of electric voltage and control signals to the display elements (12),
   wherein the rows (14) of the display elements (12) extend from the carrier rail (16) at least partly in several directions (18, 20),
   characterized in that
   the display element rows (14) differ in length.
2. The display device of claim 1, characterized in that the carrier elements (13) are connected with the carrier rail (16) through a feed element (22).
3. The display device of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display elements (12) comprise LEDs and/or LED clusters.
4. The display device of one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rows (14) of display elements (12) extend parallel to each other.
5. The display device of one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rows (14) of display elements (12) extend vertically upward (18) and vertically downward (20) from the carrier rail (16).
6. The display device of one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier rail (16) extends substantially horizontally (24).
7. The display device of one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carrier rail (16) comprises voltage supply contacts (26) and control signal supply contacts (26) for the supply of the display elements (12).
8. The display device of claim 7, characterized in that the voltage supply contacts (26) and the control signal supply contacts (26) of the carrier rail (16) are connected with the feed element (22).
9. The display device of claim 8, characterized in that the feed element (22) comprises electric lines (28) and electric contacts to pass on the electric voltage, as well as electric lines (30) and electric contacts to pass on the control signals to the display elements (12).
10. The display device of one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at the end, in particular at both ends (40, 42), of the rows (14) of the display elements (12) an end cap (36, 38) is provided for the redirection of the control signals.
11. The display device of one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the display elements (12) comprise a first control signal line (32) for passing the control signals on towards a first end cap (36), and a second control signal line (34) for passing the control signals on towards a second end cap (38).
12. The display device of one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the control signals include a serial data signal.
13. The display device of one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the display elements (12) comprise control chips.
14. The display device of one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the feed element (22) comprises a display element (12) on its side (44) directed towards the onlooker.
15. The display device of one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, between the feed element (22) and the carrier elements (13), a connecting device (48) is provided for the mechanical connection with the carrier elements (13) and for the electrical connection with the display elements (12).
16. The display device of one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a plurality of display elements (12) is connected with one carrier element (13).
17. The display device of one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a display element row (14) is formed from a plurality of carrier elements (13) with display elements (12).
18. The display device of claim 17, characterized in that the carrier elements (13) are electrically and mechanically interconnected by means of connecting elements.
19. The display device of one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the carrier elements (13) are tubular in shape.
20. The display device of one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the carrier elements (13) are substantially transparent, especially on the side (44) facing the onlooker.
21. A display method for the presentation of optical content, especially using the display device of one of claims 1 to 20, wherein
    the control signals are conducted from a carrier rail (16) via a feed element (22) in one direction (18) of a display element row (14),
    at a first end (40) of the display element row (14), the control signals are redirected towards a second end (42) of said display element row (14), especially by a first end cap (36),
    at the second end (42) of the display element row (14), the control signals are redirected towards the carrier rail (16) especially by a second end cap (38), and
    the control signals are returned into the carrier rail (16) via the feed element (22).
22. The display method of claim 21, characterized in that the supply of control signals to the display elements (12) is effected via the second control signal line (34) between the first (36) and the second end cap (38).
23. The display method of claim 22, characterized in that the first display element (12a) adjacent the first end cap (36) taps the control signal for this first display element (12a) from the second control signal line (34) and passes the control signals for the following display elements (12) to these.
24. The display method of one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that the display elements (12) are supplied with electric voltage from the carrier rail (16) directly in the direction of the first (36) and the second end cap (38) via a voltage supply line.
25. The display method of one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the display element (12) of the feed element (22) receives its control signals via the second control signal line (34) coming from the first end cap (36).
26. The display method of claim 25, characterized in that the control chip of the display element (12) of the feed element (22) automatically determines the number of display elements (12) present in a display element row (14) between the first end cap (36) and the feed element (22).
27. The display method of claim 21, characterized in that, based on the control signal returning from the second end cap (38) to the carrier rail (16), the number of display elements (12) present in a display element row (14) between the second end cap (38) and the feed element (22) is determined.
28. The display method of claim 26 and 27, characterized in that the outer contour (46) of the display device (10) is determined based on the respective number of display elements (12) present between the feed element (22) and the first (36) and second end cap (38) of each display element row (14).

Images