FR2797341A1 - Modular luminous notice board e.g. for road signals has matrix controlled by microprocessor and instruction emitters and receivers - Google Patents

Abstract

The notice board consists of a series of modules (M, M', M, M') forming a matrix of luminous elements such as LEDs controlled by a microprocessor to form the requisite symbols. It incorporates instruction emitters (50, 60) and receivers (70, 80), connected so that instructions from a master module are transmitted to each of the base modules. Each module has a plastic housing and a resin protective layer, and the board has a control unit, programme memory and optional light intensity sensor.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of message display luminous panels, and in particular to messages relating to road signs, and in particular to the signs to be displayed. variable message called PMV.

 State <U> of the Technique </ U> Various billboards for advertising display are known to date, such as scrolling or scrolling text panels.

In the particular sector of the display relating to road signs, there are known light panels fixed or mounted on security vehicles or patrol.

The common point of all of these panels is to be tailor-made for a particular message, or several messages, and not be scalable. Their cost is therefore high.

There are also known display panels composed of several smaller panels, but on the one hand the presence of these smaller panels is only made necessary to achieve the required dimensions; once built, the panel can not be modulated. Moreover, the connection between the panels is made by wire systems that do not allow to achieve good modularity. It is perhaps for this reason that modular panels made from simple and inexpensive basic elements have never been described or marketed. The present invention relates to an elementary or basic module for a luminous display panel comprising a matrix of luminous elements (in particular diodes) whose lighting is controlled by a microprocessor. embedded or not, so as to form letters, signs or figures or symbols or pictograms, etc .... (more briefly below display), as well as infrared transmitters and receivers (IR) arranged in such a way that , by joining the basic modules two by two from a first basic module called master module, which allows to form panels of all shapes and sizes, a transmitter is attached to a receiver for each pair of modules, the instructions of the master module, which itself obeys direct programming, or a preprogramming in on-board memory or not, or a choice of several preprogramming in on-board memory or not, As thus transmitted to each of the individual base modules, which form the desired display, each module naturally representing a fraction of the entire display.

<U> Appended drawing </ U> Other features and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 represents a non-example limiting base module according to the invention and a non-limiting mode of assembly or joining modules, - Figure 2 shows a non-limiting example of a housing for receiving the base modules of Figure 1; for simplicity, the basic module will be designated as well as the modules of FIG. 1 as the module in its intermediate (in the case of FIG. 2) or final (furthermore bearing protective elements) forms - FIG. consists of FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, shows three sectional views of FIG. 1 - FIG. 4 represents a preferred embodiment of assembly of the modules, corresponding to FIG. 3 - FIG. 5 which consists of FIGS. and 5B is a side view (5A) and in section CC (5B) of an elementary module of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a schematic and nonlimiting example of protection of the basic module; FIG. non-limiting example of grouping of four basic modules.

In the appended drawing, the same references have the same meanings, which are the following: M, M ', M ", ..... elementary or basic modules according to the invention 1 luminous element (in particular LED light emitting diode) 2 electronic board of an individual base module 3 housing 50, 60, 50 ', 60', .... IR transmitter for transmission of display instructions 70, 80, 70 ', 80', .... receiver IR for transmission of display instructions 6, 6 ', 6 ", ... day / night cell 7, T, 7", .... remote control receiver (in particular IR) (We can provide a cell day / night on each module, or only on the master module, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.The same option is valid for the remote control It may be preferable that only the master module is equipped or on the contrary that all the modules are identical to the manufacture but that, during assembly or assembly of the panel, only the day / night cell and the the infrared module of the master module are active, those of the slave modules being deactivated; naturally, if a slave module becomes master its cell and its sensors are activated). 8, 8 ', 8 "clip assembly or joining of two boxes of two base modules 9 protection pin 11 final protection layer 12 diode protection pin 13 notch or light in the side wall of the housing to allow the establishment of the transmitter / receiver link between two contiguous boxes.

The present invention relates to an elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for a luminous display panel, characterized in that it comprises a matrix of luminous elements 1, the illumination of which is controlled by a microprocessor, whether on board or not, so as to form displays; - issuers of instructions 50, 60 and instruction receivers 70, 80 disposed of such that, by joining the basic modules two by two from a first basic module said master module M, a transmitter 50 or 60 is attached to a receiver 80 or 70 for each pair of modules, the instructions of the module each of the individual base modules is adapted to form the desired display, a control means of the display itself comprising: an on-board electronics (card 2) capable of addressing, receive or transmit, by said transmitters and receivers, instructions for switching on or off each luminous element, - possibly an on-board memory capable of storing referenced display preprogramming, or referenced display sequences, - optionally a cell 6 capable of measuring the ambient luminous intensity, in particular day or night or fog, and of transmitting the information to the on-board electronics, - a means providing the power supply, - means 8 allowing a module to stick to another module on each of its lateral faces.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the light elements 1 are light-emitting diodes or LEDs, in particular Candela LEDs (10 Cd); according to other embodiments, the light elements are liquid crystal elements, or ends of optical fibers, or possibly incandescent light bulbs or the like, as well as any other point or non-point light element whose technology could appear in the future.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the display control means of the basic module said master M itself obeys a direct programming, or a preprogramming onboard memory or not, or a choice of several preprogramming in onboard memory or not.

In direct programming mode, the master module M is directly connected to a device capable of transferring the display instructions to the on-board electronics, such as a laptop, a pre-programmed box and the like. In such a case, said control means comprises either a conventional connector or an IR connector, or the like.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the display control means of the basic module comprises an embedded microprocessor capable of controlling the lighting of each module and storing at least one message, preferably several, or of memorizing display instructions, or display changes, in direct programming mode.

Preferably, the microprocessor is of the SGS THOMSOM TM ST62T20 type or the like. According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the transmitter system 50, 60 / receiver 80, 70 is of the infrared beam data transmission type (I R); in less preferred modes, the transmitter / receiver system may be replaced by hardware connectors such as a pin or the like.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the control means of the display comprises a remote control element such as an IR-controlled command reception cell 7, or, less preferably, a radio receiver, or, even less preferably, a wired system. According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the matrix of light elements is an 8 x 8 elements matrix.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the light elements emit a visible light orange, green or red, or blue, green and red to access the four-color process.

According to a variant of the invention, the light elements 1 emit in the IR so that the messages are picked up by IR receivers mounted, by way of non-limiting example, on vehicles, the transmission of the message then being carried out in the vehicle by a display on the dashboard, possibly accompanied by a beep type sound signal or the like.

Or, the light elements 1 emit in IR, possibly with a single warning signal emitted in visible light, so that it can be read only by authorized personnel and therefore equipped with the corresponding known equipment.

Some messages can be sent discreetly to service or safety vehicles, or teams, without being perceived by all users to whom they would not be intended, for example in airports, in the city, on the highway , in some hotel or industrial complexes, etc.

According to one variant, the light elements are alternated to transmit either in the visible or in the IR, in order to transmit alternately the two types of messages.

According to another variant, the light elements are designed or adapted, or powered by energy, to emit alternately either in the visible or in the IR, in order to transmit alternately the two types of messages.

The skilled person will design the electronic card 2 according to the intended applications and technical options selected, for example remote control or not, cell day / night or not, embedded microprocessor or not, and the like. Those skilled in the art will also be able to adapt the present invention to technological developments, in particular to the evolution of IR transmission modes and the like.

Similarly, the skilled person knows how to design a software to control the display instructions, as described here.

The preferred power supply is a 10 Ah lead battery at 6 volts.

In the appended FIG. 1, an assembly of four elementary modules is represented: M (so-called master module), M ', M ", M"'.

It will be understood that the references X, X, X ", X, etc., denote the same elements in each module M, M ', M", M, etc.

The master module must transmit to the other modules the instructions contained in its memory, and activated by the command or remote control, which requires that the master module M be placed in the upper left corner when the transmitters and receivers are placed as In this way, the module M can transmit the display instructions contained in its memory, to the other modules, by the transmitters 50 and 60.

These emitters respectively face a receiver 80 'in the module M', and a receiver 70 "'in the module M"'.

In turn, by way of example, the module M 'can transmit by its transmitter 60' to the receiver 70 "of the module M", the instructions which concern the module M "and the modules located downstream.

From downstream it is to be understood that the master module M addresses the instructions for displaying its memory, using, in known manner, a software preferably integrated, to each of the modules M ', M ", M"' etc ..... according to a diagram in lines MM 'and / or columns MM "'.

Thus, the instructions of the module M can be transmitted to the downstream modules along the lines L1, then L2, then L3, etc., or else according to different propagation schemes according to the lines U and the columns Ci (see FIG. .

Those skilled in the art will be able to vary these diagrams according to the application and the needs envisaged.

Those skilled in the art will also understand that each module Mi receives both the information intended for it (ie the fraction of the display that will be made by the module Mi) but also the information intended for the other modules. located downstream of Mi, either in line or in column, or in both modes, according to the propagation scheme chosen.

 Thus, in the appended FIG. 1, a possible mode of propagation of the information is carried out from the module M to the module M 'and simultaneously to the module M "', and thus from one to the next.

It is also possible to envisage a propagation of the instructions only towards the module M ', then towards the other modules of the same line of modules, with return in the opposite direction at the end of the line towards the module M "', then scanning of the second line towards the module M "and the following, and so gradually.

The invention also relates to an elementary or base module M, M ', M ", for a luminous display panel, as described in the present application, characterized in that it is housed in a housing whose geometry is adapted so as to allow the mechanical connection between the modules M; M ', M ", to allow (lights 13) the transmission of instructions between a receiver and a transmitter of two adjacent modules.

FIG. 2 represents a housing in which each module M, M ', M ", etc. will be housed.

The housing is naturally adapted to the geometry of the module M, M ', etc., details of which may vary according to the embodiments. It comprises in particular lights 13 intended to allow the transmission of instructions between a receiver and a transmitter.

The housing is made of any suitable material, such as PVC plastic or the like, chosen for its quality of mechanical strength. The housing must not naturally interfere with the electronics, nor be sensitive to moisture or similar defects.

The electronic cards 2 and the housing are adapted so that the card rests, in the housing, on card holders such as the elements 14.

The housings are assembled by any means, preferably but not limited to simple mechanical means such as clips or staples 8, as shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4 that each pair of two opposite faces each module comprises one of the upper clips and the other of the lower clips, intended to cooperate to ensure a locking of adjacent modules as shown in Figure 4.

FIG. 3 represents sectional views of FIG. 1, for a good understanding of the structure of the modules according to the invention. The skilled person will consider the variants to these provisions.

Figure 5 shows a side view and another sectional view of Figure 1 along C-C.

The detail 2 on the section CC represents a preferred embodiment, but not limiting, of the electrical connection between two adjacent modules during their use in PMV.

FIG. 6 represents a preferred mode of protection of the luminous elements 1.

On the electronic card 2, protective capsules or pins 9, which are permeable to visible light or IR, are positioned on the cells or receiver 6 or 7, and then a protective layer 11 is cast, which will in particular be made of resin . The resin will preferably be of the type impact polystyrene, polyamide or high density polyethylene, without limitation.

Preferably, the housing will further comprise protective lugs 12 whose height will be at least equal to that of the light elements 1, to protect them in case of drop of the module.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of four module according to the invention, assembled as just said.

The invention also relates to a luminous display panel (emitting in the visible and / or the IR, this term including in all the demand other wavelengths whose technology could appear in the future and be easily adaptable, as UV and the like), characterized in that it consists of at least one module M as described above.

According to one particular embodiment, the invention relates to a luminous display panel (transmitting in the visible and / or 1'R), according to claim 23, characterized in that it comprises at least one so-called master module M and at least one other module M ', M ", .... the display of the module M being controlled by its on-board electronics or not, as described above, and the display of the other modules M', M" , ... being controlled by the master module M via the transmitter systems 50, 60 - receivers 80, 70.

According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to a luminous display panel (emitting in the visible and / or the IR), as described above, characterized in that the master module transmits to the other modules the instructions contained in its memory, and activated by the command or remote control, and the master module M is placed in the upper left corner, the transmitters of type 50 and 60 of the master module M being placed in such a way that the module M can transmit the display instructions contained in its memory, to the other modules, by said transmitters, to the corresponding receivers of the type 80, 70, of the other modules, respectively a receiver 80 'in the module M', and a receiver 70 "' in the module M "', and thus gradually.

According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to a luminous display panel (transmitting in the visible and / or 1'R), as described above, characterized in that, in turn, the module M ' can transmit by its transmitter 60 ', to the receiver 70 "of the module M", the instructions concerning the module M "and the modules located downstream (by downstream it must be understood that the master module M addresses the instructions of display of its memory, using in known manner a software preferably integrated, each of the modules M ', M ", M` etc ..... according to a diagram in lines MM' and / or columns MM" ').

According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to a light display panel (emitting in the visible and / or 1'R), as described above, characterized in that the instructions of the module M are transmitted to the modules downstream along the lines L1, then L2, then L3 etc .... or else according to different propagation schemes along lines Li and columns Ci.

According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to a luminous display panel (emitting in the visible and / or 1'R), as described above, characterized in that each module Mi receives both the information that is intended for it (ie the fraction of the display that will be performed by the module Mi) and also the information for other modules located downstream of Mi, either online or in column, or in both modes, according to the chosen propagation scheme.

According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to a luminous display panel (emitting in the visible and / or 1'R), as described above, characterized in that a mode of propagation of the information is realized from the module M to the module M 'and simultaneously to the module M "', and thus gradually, or only to the module M ', then to the other modules of the same module line, with return in the opposite direction end line to the module M "', then scanning the second line to the module M" and the following ones, and thus from one to another.The invention applies to the creation of any luminous display panel of form and Any surfaces, such as, but not limited to - road, highway and urban signs, - display in airports, railway stations, hospitals, etc.

- signage or signage for vehicles, aircraft or vessels, - road and motorway light signaling, possibly in conjunction with traffic signs, for example as a flash of light or independently mounted on signs, - billboards in all places - information or advertising signs in department stores, shops and the like,

Claims (1)

<U> CLAIMS </ U> 1 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for a luminous display panel, characterized in that it comprises: a matrix of luminous elements 1 whose illumination is controlled by a microprocessor, embedded or not, so as to form displays, - issuers of instructions 50, 60 and instruction receivers 70, 80 arranged in such a way that, by joining the basic modules two by two to from a first basic module called master module M, a transmitter 50 or 60 is coupled to a receiver 80 or 70 for each pair of modules, the instructions of the master module thus being transmitted to each of the individual basic modules, so adapted to form the desired display, - a control means of the display itself comprising: - an on-board electronics (card 2) capable of addressing, receiving or transmitting, by said transmitters and receivers, instructions of 'ignition or extinguishing each light element, possibly an on-board memory capable of storing referenced display preprogramming, or referenced display sequences, possibly a cell capable of measuring the ambient light intensity, in particular day or night. or fog, and transmit the information to the on-board electronics, - a means providing the power supply, - means 8 allowing a module to attach to another module on each of its side faces. 2 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for luminous display panel, according to claim 1, characterized in that the light elements 1 are light-emitting diodes or LEDs, in particular LEDs Candela (10 Cd) or the light elements 1 are liquid crystal elements, or optical fiber ends, or possibly incandescent light bulbs or the like 3 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel , according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display control means of the basic module said master M itself obtains a direct programming, or a preprogramming on-board memory or not, or a choice of several preprogramming in onboard memory or not. 4 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the master module M is directly connected to a device capable of transferring the display instructions for on-board electronics, such as a laptop, a preprogrammed housing and the like, said control means comprising either conventional connectors or IR connectors, or the like 5 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display control means of the basic module comprises an embedded microprocessor capable of controlling the lighting of each module and storing at least one message, preferably several, or storing display instructions, or display changes, in direct programming mode. 6 Basic or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to claim 5, characterized in that the microprocessor is of the SGS THOMSOM TM ST62T20 type or the like 7 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transmitter system 50, 60 I receiver 80, 70 is of the infrared beam data transmission type ( IR) or the transmitter / receiver system is replaced by hardware connectivity such as a pin or the like. 8 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transmitter system 50, 60 / receiver 80, 70 is constituted by a material connector such as a pin or the like 9 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for a luminous display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control means of the display comprises a remote control element such as a cell 7 for receiving commands transmitted by IR, or a radio receiver, or a wired system. Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the matrix of light elements is an 8 x 8 elements matrix 11 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the light elements 1 emit an orange, green or red visible light. , or blue, green and red to access the four-color process. 12 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the light elements 1 emit in the IR, possibly with a signal warning device only emitted in visible light, so that it can only be read by authorized personnel 13 Basic or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 12, characterized in that the light elements 1 are alternated to emit either in the visible or in the IR. 14 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a software for controlling the display instructions. Basic or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the power supply is a 10 Ah lead-acid battery. under 6 volts. 16 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it is housed in a housing whose geometry is adapted so to allow the mechanical connection between the modules M; M ', M ", to allow (lights 13) the transmission of instructions between a receiver and a transmitter of two adjacent modules. 17 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the housing is made of any suitable material, such as a PVC plastic material or the like, chosen for its mechanical strength qualities, and in that the housing does not interfere with the electronics, and is not sensitive to moisture or similar defects 18 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M', for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the electronic boards 2 and the housing are adapted so that the board rests in the housing on supports such as the elements 14. 19 elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing comprises means for any assembly to assemble two adjacent modules, such as simple mechanical means such as clips or staples 8, such that each pair of two opposite faces of each module comprise one of the upper clips and the other of the lower clips, intended to cooperate in order to lock the housings of two adjacent modules. Basic or basic module M, M ', M ", for illuminated display panel, according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that, on the electronic card 2, capsules or pins of protection 9, permeable to visible light or IR, depending on the case, on the cell or receiver 6 or 7, then pouring a protective layer 11, in particular resin 21 Module according to claim 20, characterized in that the resin is of the impact polystyrene, polyamide, high-density polyethylene or similar type 22 Elementary or basic module M, M ', M ", for a luminous display panel, according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the In addition, the housing has protective lugs 12 whose height is at least equal to that of the luminous elements 1. 23 Illuminated display panel (emitting in the visible and / or the IR), characterized in that it consists of at least one mod Ule M according to any one of claims 1 to 22. 24 illuminated display panel (emitting in the visible and / or IR), according to claim 23, characterized in that it comprises at least one said module master M and at least one other module M ', M ", .... the display of the module M being controlled by its on-board electronics or not, as described in any one of claims 1 to 22, and the display of the or other modules M ', M ", ... being controlled by the master module M via the emitter systems 50, 60 - receivers 80, 70. 25 Luminous display panel (emitting in the visible and / or 1'1R ), according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the master module transmits to the other modules the instructions contained in its memory, and activated by the command or remote control, and the master module M is placed in the upper left corner, the transmitters of type 50 and 60 of the master module M being placed in such a way e that the module M can transmit the display instructions contained in its memory, to the other modules, by said transmitters, to the corresponding receivers of the type 80, 70, of the other modules, respectively a receiver 80 'in the module M' , and a receiver 70 "'in the module M"', and thus gradually. Luminous display panel (transmitting in the visible and / or IR) according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that, in turn, the module M 'can transmit by its transmitter 60' to the receiver 70 "of the module M", the instructions which concern the module M "and the modules situated downstream (by downstream it is to be understood that the master module M addresses the instructions for displaying its memory, using in a manner known a preferably integrated software, to each of the modules M ', M ", M` etc ..... according to a diagram in lines MM' and / or columns MM" '.) 27 Luminous billboard (emitting in the visible and / or 1'R), according to any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the instructions of the module M are transmitted to the downstream modules along lines L1, then L2, then L3 etc .... or according to different propagation schemes according to Li lines and Ci columns. 28 Billboard light source (emitting in the visible and / or the IR), according to any one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that each module Mi receives both the information intended for it (ie the fraction of the display that will be performed by the module Mi) and also the information for the other modules located downstream of Mi, either online or in column, or in both modes, according to the chosen propagation scheme. 29 illuminated display panel (emitting in the visible and / or IR), according to any one of claims 23 to 28, characterized in that an information propagation mode is carried out from the module M to the module M ' and simultaneously to the module M "', and thus gradually, or only to the module M', then to the other modules of the same module line, with return in the opposite direction at the end of the line to the module M" ', then sweeping the second line to the module M' and the following, and thus gradually moving in. Use of the modules according to any one of claims 1 to 22 or panels according to any of claims 23 at 29, for the creation of illuminated billboards in the following fields - road, motorway and urban signage, - display in airports, railway stations, hospitals, etc ... - signage or signage for vehicles, aircraft or ships; - light signaling road and motorway in conjunction with traffic signs, for example as a flash of light or independent mounted on signs, - billboards - information boards or advertising in department stores, shops and the like.