JP2009093125A - Illumination using multi-color light emitting element, and information display system and display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously and instantly change display contents by slaves even when a communication speed is decreased, in a system where display data are transmitted to many slaves incorporating multicolor light emitting elements from masters and the display contents are changed. <P>SOLUTION: In the system, each of the slaves incorporates a memory for storing the subsequent display contents. When the slave receives trigger signals from the masters 2-1 to 2-n, the slave changes the display content to the next display content at the same time. The subsequent display data can be slowly sent to each of the slaves from the masters during the display of the preceding display data, and can also maintain synchronism of the change of the display contents between the slaves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for networking by using a large number of pixels including a multicolor light emitting element, an information storage element, and a data processing device, and performing various kinds of illumination and information display.

  A solid-state light-emitting element using a semiconductor typified by a light-emitting diode (LED) has high luminance and low power consumption, and is therefore used for various displays. By changing the emission intensity of a plurality of light emitting elements having different emission colors, a large number of various color tones can be obtained. In particular, it is well known that a multicolor light source can be obtained by changing the relative luminance of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, each pixel composed of LEDs of three primary colors has a dedicated memory that stores luminance gradation data of each LED, and a pulse that outputs a pulse width modulation (PWM) wave based on the output data of the dedicated memory. A width conversion circuit and an output circuit for supplying a PWM wave to the corresponding LED are provided. From the LED light control device that controls the entire LED display panel composed of a plurality of pixels, gradation data and address data of each LED are sent to each pixel in parallel via two data buses. In each pixel, gradation data corresponding to the LED in each pixel is stored in a dedicated memory installed for each pixel, and the gradation data is converted into a PWM wave and output to each LED for various color tones. It is configured to enable display. Further, in Patent Document 1, RGB analog signals sent from a personal computer or the like are added to each pixel after correcting the variation in the light emission characteristics of the LED of each pixel by the above LED dimming device. Measures are taken so that variations in LED characteristics do not cause display noise.

  In Patent Document 2, a lighting command is transmitted from a central processor to a plurality of processors, each processor generates a lighting control signal based on the received lighting command, and a plurality of pixels connected in a daisy chain to the output portion of each processor. An example of a networked lighting system that communicates lighting control signals is described. Each pixel can be incorporated with a sensor, and its signal can be fed back to the processor or central processor to execute various control functions.

  In Patent Document 3, one master device and a plurality of slave devices are connected by a serial bus signal line, and a drive unit is connected to each slave, thereby greatly reducing the number of connection wires between the master device and the drive unit. The robot apparatus described is described.

  Patent Document 4 describes an example using IIC-bus (Inter-IC Control bus) as an example of serial data transfer.

  Patent Document 5 (FIG. 63; “0322” to “0332”) describes a method of triggering a lighting show in real time.

JP-A-8-106264 (Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd., dimmer) JP 2005-510007 (Color Kinetics, Method and Apparatus for Controlling Devices in a Networked Lighting System) JP 2004-1195 A (Sony, robotic device) JP 2000-286872 A (Kawasaki Microelectronics, Serial Data Transfer Device) US Published Patent 2005 / 0275626A1

However, any known example has a configuration in which a luminance signal corresponding to an address signal of a pixel is sent by communication to a large number of pixels connected to the controller every time display information is changed. When the number of pixels (hereinafter referred to as slaves) per controller (hereinafter referred to as a master) increases to about one hundred or more than one thousand, the time required for communication can be detected visually (30 milliseconds) It will occur in some cases. This is a bottleneck if you want to change the display at the same time. In order to avoid this drawback, it is necessary to increase the communication speed between the master and each slave or increase the number of masters to decrease the number of slaves per master. If the communication speed is increased, the power required for communication increases and the noise resistance deteriorates. Further, when the number of masters is increased, there is a disadvantage that the cost of the apparatus increases. When it is necessary to always address each slave at high speed, these improvements are also essential. However, in normal lighting display, high-speed address is not always necessary, and the screen changes or has various lighting effects. It is only necessary when
Further, in various pattern displays of normal colors, a desired illumination display is often obtained even when the number of slaves is about 100 or 200 or less. However, when character display is combined with normal illumination display, the number of slaves required for character display is about 500 to 1000 or more. For example, when displaying 15 or more alphanumeric characters composed of 5 × 7 dots, 525 slaves or more are required, and when displaying 4 or more characters composed of 16 × 16 dots, 1024 pixels are displayed. The above is necessary. When the number of display pixels is several hundred or 1000 or more, such as when displaying various pattern displays and character displays together, it is not always necessary to change the display at high speed, but the display can be switched instantaneously. It is an object of the present invention to be able to cope with the case where an effect is required without increasing the cost so much.

While the display information currently being displayed is stored and displayed in each slave, the display information to be displayed next is stored in each slave by communication. Thereafter, by triggering each slave simultaneously (hereinafter abbreviated as slave simultaneous trigger), the display content of each slave is simultaneously changed to display information to be displayed next.
As an extension of this means, it is possible to store a plurality of types of display information in advance in each slave, and sequentially change the display content to the next content to be displayed each time the slave simultaneous trigger signal is received. . In addition, if each slave receives information about which display contents to change before or during reception of the slave simultaneous trigger signal, the information stored in each slave is displayed next according to that information. The display content to be selected can be selected and the display content can be changed instantaneously.
The slave simultaneous trigger function, as described in the following examples, is provided with a dedicated trigger line separately from the data communication cable installed between the master and each slave, Broadcast communication (general call) function using a data communication path as described in JP-A-4-332065, etc., or utilizing various optional functions released to the user, etc. (general communication) Call) function or simultaneous trigger function.

    Since the contents to be displayed next may be performed while the previous display is being performed, it may take a little time, so even if the number of slaves increases, it is not necessary to increase the communication speed. Each slave only needs to change to the next display when the slave simultaneous trigger signal is received. Even if a low-cost microcomputer or the like is used for this display change, it is usually a short time of about 1 millisecond or less. Since time is sufficient, the display content of the entire screen is changed instantaneously within a time that can be detected visually (about 30 milliseconds or more). In addition, it is necessary to increase the memory (RAM) for storing the next display contents or the subsequent display contents in each slave by several bytes or hundreds of bytes. Can be easily handled. Therefore, even if the number of slaves to be displayed is increased to 100 or 1000 or more in multi-pixel display including character display or large screen display, the entire screen can be instantaneously changed in synchronization with the slave simultaneous trigger signal. The display effect can be increased. In addition, since these functions can be easily realized by a low-cost microcomputer or the like, there is an effect that a high-quality display can be obtained at a low cost. In the above description, the case where the number of slaves per master is about 100 or more has been described. However, even in the case where the number of slaves per master is several tens, the communication speed can be reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced and Of course, noise can be improved and it is effective for small-scale low-cost systems. A similar effect can be obtained by using the slave simultaneous trigger function of the present invention in a small and simple system having only one master 2 and no main master 1.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the present invention. A large number of slaves 3 as pixels are connected to a master 2 having a controller function. Further, FIG. 1 has a main master 1 that supervises a plurality of masters 2. The data communication path 5 between the master 2 and the slave 3 preferably uses serial communication with a small number of cables in order to reduce the size of the entire display system 10. In order to increase the speed by serial communication, there are synchronous serial communication (IIC communication, etc.) and serial high-speed communication (RS422, RS485, MODCA company ADDC, etc.), etc. Is suitable. FIG. 1 describes an example in which an IIC bus which is a kind of a synchronous serial communication line is used as the communication path 5 between the master 2 and the slave 3. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the number of slaves is as large as hundreds or thousands. In order to prevent the total time required for communication between the master 2 and the slave 3 from becoming too large, the number of slaves 3 for one master 2 is limited to about one hundred or several hundreds, and a plurality of masters 2-1 to -N is used. In addition, a main master 1 that supervises a plurality of masters is installed. All data of display information is stored in the main master 1, and display information that changes with time is transmitted from the main master 1 to each slave 3 via each master 2. In addition, the main master 1 in FIG. 1 can also be omitted by giving the function of the main master to one master 2 (for example, the master 2-1) among the plurality of masters 2.
The communication path 4 between the main master 1 and the master 2 can use parallel or serial communication capable of high-speed communication. FIG. 1 shows a case where a local area network is used and the communication path 5 between the master 2 and the slave 3 uses the IIC bus as described above. Delivery of trigger signals between the main master 1 and each master 2 and between the master 2 and each slave is performed by connecting the main master-master trigger line 6 and the master-slave trigger line 7 with the data communication paths 4 and 5. The case where it installs separately is shown.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the slave 3. Information currently being displayed is stored in the internal memory 8-5. The microprocessor processing unit 8-1 starts up the pulse width modulation processing 8-7 with a period equal to or shorter than the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), and outputs a pulse width signal corresponding to the contents of the internal memory 8-5 to the output buffer 9 Is output. This process is substantially processed in parallel for a plurality of light emitting elements. The contents of software such as pulse modulation processing are stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 8-6, which is a predetermined cycle (width modulation start cycle) counted based on a clock signal input (not shown). The pulse modulation processing 8-7 is activated by the timer interrupt function for width modulation activation in the microprocessor processing unit 8-1. When 8-bit data is used as the brightness of each light emitting element, the pulse width changes in 256 steps from 0 to 255. If the activation period of the pulse width modulation process 8-7 is about 10 milliseconds, for example, the minimum time interval associated with the width modulation in the pulse width modulation process 8-7 is about 10/255 = 0.04 milliseconds. That is, in the worst state, the pulse width needs to be controlled at this time interval.
As the internal memory 8-5, a parallel input / output function in the microcomputer 8 or the like, a predetermined part in the random access memory (RAM) 8-4, or a random access designated by a predetermined pointer is used. A portion in the memory (RAM) 8-4 can also be used.

An example of pulse width control will be described below. When the pulse modulation processing 8-7 is started, first, the contents of the internal memory 8-5 are copied to three work memories, and 1 is subtracted from the values of the respective work memories. If the result is positive or 0, 1 is output to 3 bits in the parallel output memory corresponding to each light emission color. After that, a width control timer interrupt is activated at regular intervals (for example, 0.04 milliseconds), and for each interrupt of the width control, three work memories corresponding to each emission color and a 3-bit parallel output memory are used. The following processing is performed.
* Subtract 1 from the work memory value of a certain luminescent color. If the result is positive or 0, 1 is output, and if it is negative, 0 is output to the parallel output memory corresponding to the emission color. *
In this way, three digital signals subjected to pulse width modulation are output from the 3-bit parallel output memory corresponding to the emission intensity data of the three colors stored in the internal memory 8-5. As described above, the entire pulse width modulation process is started with a period equal to or shorter than the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds) by the timer interrupt for starting the width modulation. Note that the pulse width modulation processing can be executed in hardware outside the microcomputer 8 or the processing speed can be increased by incorporating a dedicated processing unit for pulse width modulation in the microcomputer 8.
Also, instead of the pulse width modulation process, eight pulses having a pulse width of 1: 2: 4: 8: 16: 32: 64: 128 are temporally overlapped with 1 in the internal memory 8-5. If pulse code modulation (PCM) processing (for example, see JP-A-49-79120) that turns on and off according to the data content of 0 and changes the brightness of 8 bits is started at regular intervals (for example, 10 milliseconds), The brightness can be controlled in a shorter time.

In order to change the display contents, each slave 3-nm (m = 1, m) is transmitted from the main master 1 via the communication path 4, each master 2-n (n = 1, 2,...) And the communication path 5. 2)), data to be displayed after the next is transmitted. Between the master 1 and each master 2-n, the address of each master 2-n and the communication contents between each master 2-n and each slave 3-nm are paired to support all the masters 2-n that need to be changed. A signal necessary for communication such as a start signal and an end signal is added to the data string and transmitted. The master 2-n receives the data corresponding to its own address, that is, the communication contents between each master 2-n and each slave 3-nm, adds a signal necessary for communication thereto, and sets the communication path 5-n. To each slave 3-nm via. The contents of communication between each master 2-n and each slave 3-nm include the address of each slave 3-nm, display data for three colors to be displayed next and display order code, and the like. Note that when the information to be displayed next is sequentially transmitted, the display order code is not necessary. The timing of each part at that time is shown in FIG.
The microprocessor processing unit 8-1 detects the input of the start signal in the serial data and starts communication processing. First, the address part is checked, and when the address information matches its own address, the subsequent 3 Read color display data and display order code. After reading, an ACK signal is returned to the master 2 via the serial communication path 5. The read display data of the three colors is stored in a random access memory (RAM) 8-4 by the microprocessor processing unit 8-1. The storage location in the RAM 8-4 is a predetermined part designated by the display order code, a part indicated by the pointer designated by the display order code, or the like.

  Next, the main master 1, the main master-master trigger line 6, the master 2-n, the master-slave trigger line 7 at the timing at which the display contents are to be changed all at once (immediately before t = T1 in FIG. 3 to be described later). A slave simultaneous trigger signal is simultaneously transmitted to all of the slaves 3-nm via -n. When each slave 3-nm receives the slave simultaneous trigger signal, it copies the display data of the location indicating the display order code for the next display to the internal memory 8-5 and starts the pulse width modulation processing 8-7 ( In FIG. 3, t = T1). Thereafter, the pulse width modulation processing 8-7 is started at a new timing as in the previous case at regular intervals. After the pulse width modulation process 8-7, new display contents are displayed by the three color light emitting elements 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 by the same operation as described above. The time from when each slave 3-nm receives the slave simultaneous trigger signal to when new data is stored in the output buffer 9 and a new display starts is considered as a simultaneous visual change of the entire display screen. In order to obtain it, including variations for each slave 3-nm, at least about twice the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), preferably about the visual detection time or less, more preferably the visual detection time It should be about half or less. This condition can be easily satisfied by using a commercially available microcomputer and its interrupt function. When the pulse width modulation process 8-7 is performed on the light emitting elements of three colors, a process with a period of about 0.04 milliseconds occurs as described above. However, the available time for processing the slave simultaneous trigger signal has been increased by effectively using the idle time during the pulse width modulation process, or by using the pulse width modulation process and the pulse code modulation as described above. Thus, even if a commercially available low-cost microcomputer (for example, PIC series) is used, the change processing to the new data can be easily performed in several milliseconds or less. In order to perform the change processing to the new data in such a short time, as described in the present invention, a slave simultaneous trigger function for triggering all slaves at once is an essential condition.

  The pulse width of the slave simultaneous trigger signal used in FIG. 1 is preferably wider to improve noise resistance. On the other hand, in order to switch the entire display screen to at least about twice the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), preferably about the visual detection time or less, more preferably about half the visual detection time or less, the slave simultaneous trigger signal The pulse width is at least about the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), preferably about half the visual detection time. In order to minimize the influence of noise, the pulse width of the trigger signal is set to at least 0.5 milliseconds to 30 milliseconds, preferably 0.7 milliseconds to 15 milliseconds. In addition, it is preferable to install a band pass filter or a low pass filter in the trigger input port 8-3 of each slave 3 so as not to be further affected by noise on the slave simultaneous trigger signal. When the pulse width of the slave simultaneous trigger signal is TW (seconds), the center frequency of the bandpass filter is about 1 / (2 · TW), and this value is within the range of 0.5 to 2 times. The cut-off frequency is about 1 / TW, and is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 times this value.

A case will be described in which a horizontal four-character kanji display or color pattern display consisting of 16 × 16 = 256 slaves per character is displayed on a display surface made up of 16 × 64 = 1024 slaves 3. Four masters 2 (master 2-1 to master 2-4) are used, and 256 slaves 3-nm (slave 3-n1 to slave 3-n256, n = 1, 2, per master 2-n). 3 and 4), and the communication speed of the communication path 5-n between the master 2-n and the slave 3-nm is 100 kb / s. First, a strip-shaped color display is performed using a stripe composed of 8 × 16 horizontal slaves as one unit, and the color changes in a rainbow shape for every 8 slaves in the horizontal direction (FIG. 3A). After this state is held for 2 seconds, the display moves to the left by 8 slaves in the horizontal direction (FIG. 3-b). When another 2 seconds elapses, the display further moves to the left by 8 slaves in the horizontal direction (FIG. 3-c). During the display of such a flowing rainbow, 4 characters of Chinese characters are suddenly displayed for 60 seconds at time t = T1, and then the display of the original flowing rainbow is restored. Since communication between the main master 1 and each master 2 is high-speed parallel communication, the time required for communication is sufficiently shorter than 15 milliseconds. From the master to each slave, address signal (2 bytes), R luminance level (1 byte), G luminance level (1 byte), B luminance level (1 byte), light emission time (1 byte), rise / fall time (1 byte) 7-byte signal is transmitted (in the actual case, the number of bytes increases due to additional functions for other display modes). Start control at the start of transmission from the master, return of ACK signal after reception by the slave, and subsequent stop control, etc. It is useless until transmission of display information to the next slave starts after transmission of display information to one slave There will be time. Assuming that 10 bytes of transmission time per slave including the dead time is required, the time required to finish transmitting signals for 256 slaves: Ta is expressed by equation (1).
Ta (seconds) = (1 / 100,000) × 8 × 10 × 256 = 0.051 = 205 milliseconds ········· Equation (1)

When the start of the display of the first slave and the start of the 256th slave are shifted by the time of the expression (1), a visual time delay is detected, so that the display does not appear to change instantaneously. Therefore, the content of the next kanji display is transferred from the main master 1 via the master 2-n to the slave 3-nm (n = 1-4, m = 1−2) during the 2 seconds when the previous rainbow display is displayed. 256) and stored in the memory portion for the next display information in each slave. Since the transmission time of 205 milliseconds is sufficiently longer than 2 seconds of the previous display, it can be transmitted with a margin during the previous display. Next, a slave simultaneous trigger signal is transmitted from the main master 1 to the slave 3-nm via the master 2-n at or just before t = T1 in FIG. When each slave receives this slave simultaneous trigger signal, the memory content of the next display information is processed as the current display content, so that the next display of kanji is displayed on the screen. As described in the first embodiment, even when a commercially available low-cost microcomputer (for example, PIC series) is used, the time from the reception of the slave simultaneous trigger signal to the display of the next data content can easily be several milliseconds. This can be done as follows. Therefore, the display contents of all slaves 3-nm are switched instantaneously within the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), and four Chinese characters are displayed simultaneously and instantaneously. For this reason, the appeal effect of the contents of kanji is also increased. In addition, when it is desired to gradually switch from flowing rainbow display to kanji display (fade display), it can also be performed by setting the rise / fall time in the display data to a desired value. In this case as well, the adoption of the slave simultaneous trigger signal has the advantage that the entire screen can be synchronized and synchronized with the timing of screen switching, and the entire screen can be changed naturally and smoothly.

The display of the flowing rainbow may be transmitted from the main master 1 to the slave 3 every time the display is changed (2 seconds in the above example), but there are a plurality of basic types including a rainbow display. If the display mode software is stored in the ROM 8-6 of each slave 3, once the display mode and its parameters are specified, each slave 3 automatically changes the display content within the range of the display mode. You can also In specifying the rainbow basic display mode, if you specify parameters such as the total number of color changes or the degree of color change for each address, the period of change, whether there is a fade effect when changing colors, and the speed, along with the display mode, Subsequent changes in slave 3 are made automatically. Even when the display of the full screen is started, the entire screen of the present invention can be synchronized and simultaneously progressed, and the display can be synchronized and simultaneously progressed to start the display. There are advantages. Each slave 3 has a built-in clock for timing or microprocessor operation, but if it is operated in the same display mode for a long time, due to a subtle difference in the oscillation frequency of the clock in each slave 3, There may be a difference in display change timing in each part of the full screen display. Even in such a case, there is an advantage that all the slaves 3 can be synchronized only by transmitting the slave simultaneous trigger signal in a certain cycle (for example, several minutes) without transmitting display data again.
In addition, as a basic display mode, it is possible to provide a strobe display that performs blinking of light emission color or an instantaneous color change, a random lighting display of various colors, and the like.

4 and 5 show an embodiment in which a slave simultaneous trigger function is provided by using broadcast communication (general call) utilizing a data communication path. In the broadcast communication, when a specific address (for example, “000” in hexadecimal) of the device connected to the communication path is adopted as the broadcast communication address and each slave 3 receives the data of the specific address, Each slave is configured to have a function of interpreting the data as broadcast communication.
In FIG. 4, compared with FIG. 2, the main master-master trigger line 6 and the master-slave trigger line 7 are deleted, and instead, data communication paths 4 and 5 have a broadcast communication (general call) function. Paths 4 'and 5' are used. Also, in FIG. 5, compared with FIG. 3, the trigger input port 8-3 is deleted, and the serial data & simultaneous report input port 8-2 ′ is connected to the communication path 5 ′ having the broadcast communication (general call) function. Broadcast data reception processing is performed along with data reception processing. FIG. 6B shows the timing of the data on the communication channels 4 ′ and 5 ′ and the display content of each slave 3 when broadcast communication is performed after the data to be displayed is transmitted from the main master 1 to each slave. Shown in Each slave operation shown in FIG. 5 after receiving the simultaneous communication is almost the same as the contents described in FIG. 2 except for the display order code described below.
If it is difficult to add a broadcast communication function to the communication path 4 'between the main master 1 and each master 3, the configuration between the main master 1 and each master 3 in FIG. Even if the configuration in which the communication path 4 and the main master-master trigger line 6 are provided together is adopted, the system complexity does not increase so much, and almost similar characteristics to the system of FIG. 4 can be obtained.

In broadcast communication (general call), data can be attached to the simultaneous trigger function. If this function is utilized, a display order code is attached to display data to be displayed subsequently and transmitted to each slave in advance, and each slave 3 stores in advance in the address of the RAM 8-4 corresponding to the display order code. Keep it. Next, when the display needs to be changed, as shown in FIG. 6c), the main master 1 passes through each master 3 and each slave 3 is attached with a display order code of display data to be changed. We perform news communication. If there are not many types of display data to be changed, send each slave with a display code that has a high probability of being displayed, and send it to each slave in advance. Since only short communication data is required, the amount of communication between the main master 1 and each master 3 and between the master 3 and each slave can be drastically reduced, and power consumption associated with communication can also be drastically reduced. Further, if display data having a high possibility of being displayed is transmitted to each slave 3 in advance before displaying on the screen or while most of the slaves are not displaying, the light emitting element 10 associated with the display of the screen is displayed. Because the main communication is completed without the influence of the drive noise, adverse effects such as malfunction during communication due to noise are greatly improved.
Note that the function described here can be obtained by transmitting a display order code to each slave 3 and then transmitting a trigger signal to each slave 3 via trigger lines 6 and 7 in the system shown in FIG. Although it is a little inferior in simplicity, it can be equipped with a function similar to the data-attached broadcast communication.

  By using broadcast communication (general call) having a trigger function with data attached, it is possible to easily display in synchronization with sound as described below. (1) A frequency corresponding to the maximum level of the sound volume is encoded to, for example, 8 levels (3 bits), and (2) a digital signal (6 bits) in which the sound volume level is encoded to, for example, 8 levels (3 bits) is For example, in 30-500 milliseconds), the main master 1 is input. In the main master 1, a 2-bit signal corresponding to the display mode is added to the head portion of the 6-bit digital signal to generate 1-byte data, and when this data changes, a trigger function is attached with 1-byte data. Broadcast communication (general call) having a message is sent from the main master to each slave via each master. In each slave, the data attached to the broadcast communication (general call) is received and stored in the RAM 8-4, and the frequency level 3 in the received data is stored by the software in the ROM 8-6 in each slave. The bit portion is output to the internal memory 8-5 in correspondence with the change in emission color, and the 3-bit portion of the volume level is output in correspondence with the change in emission intensity. Thereafter, as described above, pulse width modulation is performed at a predetermined cycle, and each light emitting element 10-1 to 10-i emits light. Then, the display changes simultaneously on the entire screen with the color and emission intensity corresponding to the sound. This change is displayed corresponding to the change in the signal input to the main master. Since it is only necessary to send the same broadcast (general call) signal with a trigger function with only 1-byte data attached to all slaves, even if the display changes about 100 milliseconds or less , Communication between main masters and masters and slaves is not congested and can be performed at a low communication speed (for example, 1k−number + k bits / second), so that a low-cost and stable system can be realized. The 2-bit display mode is, for example, 00: color and emission intensity designation mode described here; 01: display order code (described later); 10: flowing rainbow display mode; 11: other display modes. Yes, the display contents can be changed by a lower 6-bit signal.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example when the number of addresses that can be connected to one communication path (for example, 5′-1) between each master 3 and each slave 3 is limited. The difference from FIG. 4 is that the data transmitted from the main master 1 to one master 2-J (J = 1, 2,...) Is divided in the master 2-J and is divided into two (generally, It is transmitted to each slave 3 via a plurality of communication paths 5 '-(2J-1), 5'-(2J). When the master 2-J can transmit data to each slave 3 using two communication paths simultaneously, the operation is not significantly different from that in FIG. However, when the master 2 is constituted by a low-cost microcomputer, it may be difficult to perform simultaneous communication processing using a plurality of communication paths. In this case, processing is sequentially performed on a plurality of communication paths. As described above, since the display content to be changed may be transmitted to each slave 3 in advance, two (generally a plurality of) communication paths 5 ′-(2J-1), 5 ′-(2J ) The data delay between them is hardly a problem. However, if there is a delay of more than about the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds) between broadcast communications sent to each slave 3 via these two communication paths, an unnatural display will occur on the full screen display. The possibility comes out. FIG. 8 schematically shows data between the communication channels 5′-1 and 5′-2 and the transmission timing of the broadcast communication in the configuration of FIG. Since the data for broadcast communication is short common data of several bytes consisting of only a common address for broadcast communication (for example, “000” in hexadecimal) and some data, The time to communicate with each slave via 5′-1 (or 5′-2) is instantaneously terminated within 1 millisecond. Further, the time for switching the communication paths 5′-1 and 5′-2 can also be completed in a time sufficiently shorter than 1 millisecond. Accordingly, the delay time of the broadcast data transmitted to the two communication paths 5′-1 and 5′-2 indicated by Δt in FIG. 8 is a short value of about 1 millisecond or less. For this reason, even if broadcast processing is sequentially performed using two communication paths, the delay time is sufficiently smaller than the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds).
As the number of divisions of the communication path 5 ′ transmitted from one master 2 to the slave 3 increases, the maximum value of the delay time between the broadcast data increases substantially in proportion to the number of divisions of the communication path. However, if the number of divisions of the communication path is about 10 or less, even if a low-cost microcomputer (for example, PIC series) is used, the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds) can be reduced to about 1/4 or less. The visual display contents are switched instantaneously and simultaneously. In other words, the slave simultaneous trigger function is visually satisfied for the entire screen even between the divided communication paths. This is no different from the case of FIGS.

  FIG. 9 shows another example in which the slave simultaneous trigger function is provided in the IIC standard serial communication path. The IIC communication path is composed of a synchronization clock line named SCL and a data line named SDA. In the IIC standard, the operation when the SDA line is at a high level between the time when the stop signal is received and the time when the next start signal is received is not particularly specified. During this time, the SCL line is normally kept at a high level. While the SDA from when the stop signal is received until when the next start signal is received, the SCL line is changed from high level to low level and then returned to high level. This operation is used as a slave simultaneous trigger. Can be used. When the low level period of the trigger is 1 to several milliseconds, even when a low-cost microcomputer is used as the slave 3, it is possible to easily respond to the slave simultaneous trigger signal.

1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 show an example in which the communication paths 4, 4 ′ between the main master 1 and each master 2-n are connected by a common communication path. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, data can also be sent sequentially between the main master 1 and each master 2-n using separate high-speed communication paths. With this configuration, when the broadcast communication function cannot be added to each communication path, or the broadcast communication function can be added, the maximum delay of the broadcast reception timing between each master 2-n is the visual detection time (30 mm When the time is about half or more, it is preferable to install a main master-master trigger line 6 as shown in FIG.
Further, as the configuration of the communication path between the main master 1 and each master 2-n, a serial connection as shown in FIG. 11 can also be employed. In this case as well, as described above, when the maximum value of the broadcast reception timing delay between the masters 2-n is about half or more than the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds), As shown in FIG. 10, it is preferable to transmit the slave simultaneous trigger signal by the main master-master trigger line 6.
Note that a serial connection communication path can also be adopted between the master 2-n and the slave-nm as shown in FIG. However, when the maximum delay of the broadcast reception timing is about the visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds) or longer, it is desirable to install the master-slave trigger line 7 shown in FIG.

  According to the present invention, the content to be displayed next may be performed while the previous display is being performed or before it, so that a little time may be required. For this reason, even if the number of slaves increases, it is not necessary to increase the communication speed. As a result, power consumption can be reduced and the adverse effects of noise can be greatly improved. In each slave, when the slave simultaneous trigger signal or the broadcast communication information is received, the display may be changed to the next display. This display change processing is usually performed even if a low-cost microcomputer is used. Since a short time of about millisecond or less is sufficient, the display content of the entire screen is instantly changed to a time that can be detected visually (about 30 milliseconds or more). In addition, it is necessary to increase the memory (RAM) for storing the next display contents or the subsequent display contents in each slave by several bytes or hundreds of bytes. Can be easily handled. Therefore, even if the number of slaves to be displayed is increased to 100 or 1000 or more in multi-pixel display including character display or large screen display, the entire screen can be instantaneously changed in synchronization with the slave simultaneous trigger signal. The display effect can be increased. In addition, since these functions can be easily realized by a low-cost microcomputer or the like, there is an effect that a high-quality display can be obtained at a low cost. Although the case where the number of slaves per master is about 100 or more has been described above, the present invention can reduce the communication speed and reduce the power consumption even when the number of slaves per master is about several tens. Of course, it can significantly reduce the impact of the system and is effective for small-scale and low-cost systems. A similar effect can be obtained by using the slave simultaneous trigger function of the present invention in a small and simple system having only one master 2 and no main master 1.

  According to the present invention, the transmission of display change content data from the master to the slave and the transmission of display screen switching information by the slave simultaneous trigger signal or broadcast communication information can be performed separately. For example, if the display change contents data and display order information are paired and sent in advance from the master to the slave before the display starts or almost (90% or more) of the slaves are in the non-lighting state, the display It is only necessary to send only the slave simultaneous trigger signal or the display screen switching information based on the broadcast communication information every time the contents are changed. When the display starts or almost (70% or more, preferably 90% or more) of slaves are in a non-light emitting state, noise due to driving of the light emitting element 10 is not generated or very little. Greatly improved. The slave simultaneous trigger signal or broadcast communication information is a relatively long one of one pulse or short data of 1 to several bytes, which is about a visual detection time (about 30 milliseconds) or about 1/2 or 1/20 of that. Since it is sufficient to send it in time, the communication speed at the time of broadcast communication can be drastically reduced to about 1 k to several tens of k bits / second. Further, a band pass filter, a low pass filter or If an element (such as an RC circuit) having a filter function is installed, the influence of noise can be greatly improved.

  The illumination and information display system and display method using the multi-color light emitting device of the present invention can be used for a background or theme display in a display for display, illumination, various events, etc. from a small system such as a Christmas tree or decoration in the home. Various displays, and even large systems such as various illuminations for buildings such as bridges and buildings, can be used for display or lighting that changes color over time, reducing costs, stabilizing operation, and increasing appeal effects, etc. Can be achieved.

The figure which shows an example of the system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows an example of the structure in the slave used for this invention Diagram showing examples of changes in display contents The figure which shows another example of the system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows an example of the structure in the slave used for this invention The figure which shows the example of a timing of the signal used by this invention The figure which shows another example of the system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows the other example of the timing of the signal used by this invention The figure explaining an example which adds a trigger function to 11C communication channel The figure which shows another example of the system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows the example of a part of system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows the other example of a part of system configuration used for this invention The figure which shows an example of the structure in the slave used for [FIG. 12]

Explanation of symbols

  1 ... Main master. 2 ... Master. 3 ... Slave. 4: Main master-master communication path. 4 ': Main master-master communication path with broadcast communication function. 5: Master-slave communication path. 5 ': Master-slave communication path with broadcast communication function. 6: Main master-master trigger line. 7: Master-slave trigger line. 8: Microprocessor. 8-1. Microprocessor processing unit. 8-2: Serial data input port. 8-2 '... Serial data & simultaneous report input port. 8-2 "Serial data & simultaneous report input / output port. 8-3 ... Trigger input port. 8-4 ... RAM. 8-5 ... Internal memory. 8-6 ... ROM. 8-7 ... Pulse width modulation section.9 ... Output buffer 10 ... Light emitting element.

Claims (4)

At least two or more light emitting elements having different emission colors, a drive unit for adjusting the instantaneous light emission intensity and the light emission time rate of each light emitting element, a serial communication port, a control unit for controlling communication and display information, and information Display data is transmitted from at least one master to a serial communication port in the slave via a serial communication path to a plurality of slaves having at least a storage unit for storing In the color display system to be changed, data to be displayed on the slave after the next timing is transmitted from the master to the serial communication port in the slave via the serial communication path and stored in the storage unit in the slave. Later, a slave simultaneous trigger signal is transmitted from the master to the slave via the master-slave trigger line. After receiving the slave simultaneous trigger signal from the trigger signal input port, the multi-color light emitting element is used to change the display content to the content to be displayed next according to the content of the storage unit in the slave. Lighting and information display system. At least two or more light emitting elements having different emission colors, a drive unit for adjusting the instantaneous light emission intensity and the light emission time rate of each light emitting element, a serial communication port, a control unit for controlling communication and display information, and information Display data is transmitted from at least one master to a serial communication port in the slave via a serial communication path to a plurality of slaves having at least a storage unit for storing In the color display system to be changed, a serial communication path having a broadcast communication function or a slave simultaneous function is used as the serial communication path, and data to be displayed on the slave after the next timing is transmitted from the master via the serial communication path. Then, the data is transmitted to the serial communication port in the slave, stored in the storage unit in the slave, and then the serial from the master. Broadcast communication information or a slave simultaneous trigger signal is transmitted to the slave via the communication channel, and after receiving the broadcast communication information or the slave simultaneous signal, the slave performs the next operation according to the contents of the storage unit in the slave. Illumination and information display system using a multicolor light emitting element characterized in that processing for changing display contents to contents to be displayed is performed. At least two or more light emitting elements having different emission colors, a drive unit for adjusting the instantaneous light emission intensity and the light emission time rate of each light emitting element, a serial communication port, a control unit for controlling communication and display information, and information Display system for transmitting display data from at least one master to the slave via a serial communication path and changing display contents of the slave to a plurality of slaves having at least a storage unit for storing And the step of transmitting the data to be displayed by the slave after the next timing from the master to the slave, the step of receiving the data by the slave and storing it in the storage unit, and the slave simultaneous trigger signal or the same. Transmitting information communication information from the master to the slave; and at the slave, the slave simultaneous trigger signal or the same Lighting and information display method using the multicolor light-emitting device characterized by a step of changing the display content of the communication information to the next content to be displayed in the data stored in the reception after the storage unit. While 70% or more of the slaves connected to the common serial communication path or all the slaves are in the non-light emitting state, the data to be displayed on the slave after the next timing and the information on the display order of the data are displayed. A step of transmitting a set from the master to the slave, a step of storing the data in the slave and storing it in the storage unit, and a slave simultaneous trigger signal or broadcast communication information at each timing of changing the display contents. A step of transmitting from the master to the slave; and after receiving the slave simultaneous trigger signal or the broadcast communication information by the slave, display contents are displayed in the contents to be displayed next in the data stored in the storage unit. The illumination and the information display method using the multicolor light emitting element according to claim 3, further comprising a step of changing.

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