WO2003065201A1 - Simple display system especially adapted to display complex patterns - Google Patents
Simple display system especially adapted to display complex patterns Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003065201A1 WO2003065201A1 PCT/GB2003/000380 GB0300380W WO03065201A1 WO 2003065201 A1 WO2003065201 A1 WO 2003065201A1 GB 0300380 W GB0300380 W GB 0300380W WO 03065201 A1 WO03065201 A1 WO 03065201A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- display
- controller
- processor
- processors
- control information
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
- G06F3/1423—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
- G06F3/1446—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/302—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
- G09F9/3026—Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
- G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
- G09G3/22—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters using controlled light sources
- G09G3/30—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters using controlled light sources using electroluminescent panels
- G09G3/32—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters using controlled light sources using electroluminescent panels semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
Definitions
- the invention relates to a display system, to an illumination device and to a method of controlling a display.
- One well-known display system comprises the "fairy lights" used to decorate Christmas trees. These lights generally comprise a strand of several tens of bulbs powered by a common source. In the simplest form, the bulbs are powered in series along a length of wire that can be draped or suspended as appropriate for display purposes. More sophisticated versions are known allowing more complex display patterns. In particular flashing displays are available. This is either by insertion of a modified bulb into the series connection including a bi-metallic strip that makes and breaks an electrical contact as it heats and cools. This breaks the connection across the entire series strand so that all of the lights flash with the modified bulb. Alternatively, a more sophisticated version comprises a centralised controller that controls the supply of power to a strand of bulbs. In one known arrangement the controller independently controls two or more separate strands allowing more complex display patterns to be achieved.
- a display system comprising a display controller, a plurality of processors in communication with the controller via a common communication path and at least one display element in communication with each processor, in which the controller is arranged to control the display elements via the processor.
- the invention further provides a display system comprising a display controller, a plurality of processors connected with the display controller and receiving power and control information via the connection and at least one display element in communication with each processor.
- the invention further comprises a method of controlling a display comprising a plurality of processors each in communication with at least one display element comprising the steps of sending display control information from a controller to the processors via a common communication path.
- the invention provides an illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination elements and a display system described above in which the illumination elements comprise said display elements.
- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system embodying the present invention
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a node of the system of Figure 1;
- Fig. 3 shows a data structure for the system of Figure 1 ; and Fig. 4 shows a control switching arrangement for the system of Figure 1.
- FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a basic system exemplifying the present invention.
- a power adapter 10 receives power from a mains supply (not shown) and powers a control unit 20.
- the control unit sends power and a data signal down a 2- wire bus 22.
- a 2- wire bus 22 For example this can be a simple twisted pair.
- a plurality of nodes 24, 26, 28 take the power/data signal off the bus 22.
- the nodes are discussed in more detail below but include means for separating the power and data signals, means for processing the data signal and at least one display element, typically an LED, controlled according to the data signal. This arrangement allows complex displays to be achieved limited only by the number of nodes/display elements per node, with processing power distributed across the system rather than residing at the control unit 20.
- the system also includes a remote or other user control 30 arranged to communicate and control the control unit 20. As shown this is via a wired connection but a wireless connection is also envisaged. Such wireless connections may include a radio frequency, optical, infrared or acoustic link.
- the various components shown in Fig. 1 are, individually, available off the shelf and will be well known to the skilled person.
- the power adapter 10 can be any appropriate power adapter that can be country specific. In one embodiment the adapter provides a + 6v supply to the controller 20 which is appropriate to drive the nodes 24, 26, 28 where the display elements comprise LEDs. In another, the power adapter provides +6v and Ov.
- the controller 20 can be any appropriate microprocessor, for example processor number PIC16F628 manufactured by Microchip Pic of Arizona, U.S.A.
- a power separator comprises a bridge rectifier and smoothing capacitor 42 arranged to smooth out power derived from the bus.
- a signal separator 40 includes a resistor 44 and a capacitor 45 arranged to extract the data signal that is then passed to processor 46.
- the resistor 44 and capacitor 45 form a transient-suppressing filter to avoid spikes from the bus 22 from reaching the processor 46.
- the processor controls a red green and blue LED 48, 50, 52 respectively via a respective series resistor 54.
- the use of the three LEDs 48, 50, 52 allows a very wide range of colours and effects to be achieved under the control of the processor 46 as is generally well known. For example at least 32,000 colours are achievable using an LED configuration of this type.
- the number of control lines from the controller is reduced to a single twisted pair bus linking all the nodes.
- a larger proportion of computational work is done locally to the nodes including decoding the control signals, generating the amplitude and frequency signals for the lamps and for example calculating blend and random switching functions. This local processing helps to keep radio frequency interference (RFI)/electro-magnetic-compatibility (EMC) problems to a minimum.
- RFID radio frequency interference
- EMC electro-magnetic-compatibility
- the data/signal extractor 40 can be the simple circuitry shown in fig 2 or any appropriate data/signal extractor. It will be understood that the use of an RC filter provides an inexpensive solution to the problem of spikes and other transients on the bus, but that this solution may not be appropriate in all applications. For example, in environments where noise or bus spikes are more critical, a zener diode or like voltage dependent switch could be substituted for the capacitor.
- the processor 46 can be any appropriate processor for example the Microchip Pic range processor number PIC12CE674 manufactured by Microchip Pic of Arizona, U.S.A.
- the LEDs can be any appropriate red/green blue LED such as Farnell 621.419 manufactured by Multicomp.
- the processor 46 is arranged to control the LEDs 48, 50, 52 either based on programme instructions received from the controller 20 or instructions hard wired or coded into the processor and triggered by a data signal from the controller.
- the controller 20 loads instructions into the processors 46 at the outset or prior to operation according to those instructions being required, and then triggers the operation subsequently with a data signal.
- the controller 20 can send instructions to each node 24, 26, 28 to commence operation according to a pre-determined programme and then the controller can lie dormant. In that case the controller 20 may poll the nodes at pre-determined intervals - for example every thirty minutes - to check on synchronisation or can issue synchronisation signals at pre-determined intervals.
- the data structure is a 2-byte structure.
- the first byte 60 of the pair is an address byte.
- the second byte 62 either carries an instruction (where the first three most significant bits are Is and the remaining bits carry the instruction data) to be carried out by the processor or 8 bits of data to trigger the processor to operate previously coded instructions. Examples of instructions might be:
- Possible data structures, where the top three bits are not 111 and n is 0...31 might be:
- one 1-byte instruction is available indicating reset and having a value of 00 (hex) and a byte value of 255 signifies data or an instruction to all lamps.
- the system can accommodate 254 individual nodes on a single bus 22, each being individually addressed.
- the actual manner in which the instructions are decoded and enacted is a matter of conventional choice for the skilled person and is not explored in detail here.
- a simple bipolar modulation scheme is applied to the power signal to impress the data signal thereon.
- This modulation scheme is preferred, as polarity switching is extremely robust.
- Fig. 4 shows a simple H-bridge configuration in which power signal modulation is achieved by switches 70 controlled by the controller 20.
- the switches comprise MOSFETs.
- data transmission can be modulated over the power signal at a frequency of up to 10 6 bps; in the embodiment discussed a bit rate of 9600 bps is adopted.
- Accidental reversing of polarity may be accommodated by incorporating appropriate sensors at the respective processors 46, which detects initial polarity and operates accordingly.
- bridge rectifiers may be used to ensure correct polarity to the processors 46.
- Control of the display can be achieved in various manners.
- the controller itself can simply be pre-programmed to run a sequence of display schemes by the way of simple data instructions to the respective nodes or by triggering instructions coded or loaded to the nodes.
- the versatility of the system allows a greater level of control to the user. For example by entering user commands to the controller 20 or to control device 30, display schemes can be defined or selected from a range of pre-defined options using an appropriate user interface.
- ambient conditions can be used to determine the display schemes adopted. For example ambient sound such as music can comprise the input via a suitable transducer allowing synchronised or atmospheric display lighting.
- any appropriate controller, processor and LED components can be used to implement the invention as discussed above.
- the controller can run multiple strings via separate H-bridges or other command interfaces allowing the user to purchase additional strings as desired.
- the display elements limited to red, green and blue LEDs. Any other available colours of LEDs, for example white LEDs - can be incorporated and alternative illumination sources can be used instead. Further still the display elements can extend to mechanical devices such as articulated elements.
- the modulation scheme can be selected as appropriate and can, for example, comprise frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation, phase shift keying (PSK) modulation or a modulated wave signal imposed on the power signal.
- FSK frequency shift keying
- PSK phase shift keying
- any appropriate data structure and command language can be adopted and can be transmitted to the nodes via any appropriate physical data or power carrier.
- the invention can be implemented in a range of alternative applications.
- the nodes can be laid out in a grid forming a display board allowing the display of text or graphical elements.
- Such a display would have a range of uses and could for example be used as a simple illumination device transferable to a display device when required - for example in emergency situation it could be used to indicate emergency exits and so forth.
- a system such as this could be used domestically, in shops, hospitals, aircraft, car dashboards or any other appropriate environment.
- the controller may in another family of embodiments communicate control signals wirelessly with the nodes, which can in such embodiments either be separately connected to receive power from the mains, or can be self-powered, e.g. from batteries or accumulators.
- accumulators can be associated with solar cells, wind power generators or the like.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0202426.3 | 2002-02-01 | ||
GB0202426A GB0202426D0 (en) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-02-01 | Display system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2003065201A1 true WO2003065201A1 (en) | 2003-08-07 |
Family
ID=9930268
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2003/000380 WO2003065201A1 (en) | 2002-02-01 | 2003-01-30 | Simple display system especially adapted to display complex patterns |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB0202426D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003065201A1 (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102006004825B3 (en) * | 2006-01-30 | 2007-05-24 | Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. | Display for use as theatre coulisse, has light emitting units arranged on flexible carrier foil, and cylindrical, opaque separation layer arranged between units, where each unit emits three colors and attached to lens-like unit |
WO2008001274A2 (en) | 2006-06-27 | 2008-01-03 | Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh | Large area lighting |
WO2009033610A1 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-19 | Arnold Zender | Method and system for control and power supply of at least one electrical consumer |
DE102009007503A1 (en) * | 2009-02-05 | 2010-08-12 | E:Cue Control Gmbh | lighting arrangement |
DE102009035529A1 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2011-02-03 | Diehl Aerospace Gmbh | Method for controlling lights through transmission of operational data sets to lights, involves implementing lights based on release command, and transmitting operational data sets to lights, where data sets comprise address coding |
JP2013527482A (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2013-06-27 | ネオフォーカル システムズ、インコーポレイテッド | System and method for lighting power and control system |
WO2014094015A2 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-06-26 | Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg | Master-slave system on the secondary side of a galvanic isolation barrier (selv barrier) of an operating unit |
US8840276B2 (en) | 2011-11-16 | 2014-09-23 | Oree, Inc. | Illumination apparatus confining light by total internal reflection and methods of forming the same |
US9164218B2 (en) | 2008-07-10 | 2015-10-20 | Oree, Inc. | Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method |
US9857519B2 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2018-01-02 | Oree Advanced Illumination Solutions Ltd. | Planar remote phosphor illumination apparatus |
JP2018060206A (en) * | 2017-11-06 | 2018-04-12 | ネオフォーカル システムズ、インコーポレイテッドNeofocal Systems,Inc. | System and method for electronic illumination |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0731436A1 (en) * | 1994-09-27 | 1996-09-11 | Shinsuke Nishida | Display |
EP0786720A2 (en) * | 1996-01-29 | 1997-07-30 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Multiple screen display apparatus |
EP0829845A1 (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1998-03-18 | Fourie Inc. | Display device |
US6297787B1 (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 2001-10-02 | Fourie, Inc. | Display device |
-
2002
- 2002-02-01 GB GB0202426A patent/GB0202426D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-01-30 WO PCT/GB2003/000380 patent/WO2003065201A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0731436A1 (en) * | 1994-09-27 | 1996-09-11 | Shinsuke Nishida | Display |
US6297787B1 (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 2001-10-02 | Fourie, Inc. | Display device |
EP0786720A2 (en) * | 1996-01-29 | 1997-07-30 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Multiple screen display apparatus |
EP0829845A1 (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1998-03-18 | Fourie Inc. | Display device |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102006004825B3 (en) * | 2006-01-30 | 2007-05-24 | Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. | Display for use as theatre coulisse, has light emitting units arranged on flexible carrier foil, and cylindrical, opaque separation layer arranged between units, where each unit emits three colors and attached to lens-like unit |
WO2008001274A2 (en) | 2006-06-27 | 2008-01-03 | Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh | Large area lighting |
WO2008001274A3 (en) * | 2006-06-27 | 2008-05-15 | Philips Intellectual Property | Large area lighting |
WO2009033610A1 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-19 | Arnold Zender | Method and system for control and power supply of at least one electrical consumer |
CN101849437A (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2010-09-29 | 阿诺德·曾德 | Method and system for control and power supply of at least one electrical consumer |
US8436487B2 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2013-05-07 | Arnold Zender | Method and system for control and power supply of at least electrical consumer |
US9164218B2 (en) | 2008-07-10 | 2015-10-20 | Oree, Inc. | Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method |
DE102009007503A1 (en) * | 2009-02-05 | 2010-08-12 | E:Cue Control Gmbh | lighting arrangement |
US8633651B2 (en) | 2009-02-05 | 2014-01-21 | Traxon Technologies Europe Gmbh | Illumination assembly |
DE102009035529A1 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2011-02-03 | Diehl Aerospace Gmbh | Method for controlling lights through transmission of operational data sets to lights, involves implementing lights based on release command, and transmitting operational data sets to lights, where data sets comprise address coding |
JP2013527482A (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2013-06-27 | ネオフォーカル システムズ、インコーポレイテッド | System and method for lighting power and control system |
US8840276B2 (en) | 2011-11-16 | 2014-09-23 | Oree, Inc. | Illumination apparatus confining light by total internal reflection and methods of forming the same |
US9039244B2 (en) | 2011-11-16 | 2015-05-26 | Oree, Inc. | Illumination apparatus confining light by total internal reflection and methods of forming the same |
US9857519B2 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2018-01-02 | Oree Advanced Illumination Solutions Ltd. | Planar remote phosphor illumination apparatus |
WO2014094015A3 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-12-18 | Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg | Master-slave system on the secondary side of a galvanic isolation barrier (selv barrier) of an operating unit |
WO2014094015A2 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-06-26 | Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg | Master-slave system on the secondary side of a galvanic isolation barrier (selv barrier) of an operating unit |
AT15438U1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2017-09-15 | Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg | Master-slave system on the secondary side of a galvanic isolation barrier (SELV barrier) of a control gear |
JP2018060206A (en) * | 2017-11-06 | 2018-04-12 | ネオフォーカル システムズ、インコーポレイテッドNeofocal Systems,Inc. | System and method for electronic illumination |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0202426D0 (en) | 2002-03-20 |
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