Modular display and controller

A modular display and controller for providing information from user configurable display comprising a series of interconnected display modules. Users are able to physically attach and electrically attach arrayed rows of lighting elements together to form a variety of shaped signs for the display of scrolling information.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of module displays for indicating textual based information via a user defined display.

2. Description of Related Art

Presently factory assembled displays provide users the ability to change the displayed content. Users are, however, not able to assemble signs from individual modules. Computer monitors can be combined to form a virtual desktop but require extensive programming and hardware to combine multiple displays into a single display. While there are many ways to display textual information well known in the art, considerable room for improvement remains.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Users today desire readily configurable and customizable displays or signs for displaying textual information. Much like a toy building system a modular display system allows users to create a certain shaped display today and a different shaped display tomorrow from parts that combine to create a single display thereby allowing for modularity. A system for displaying information is comprised of an input device, a controller, and a display. Typically a user inputs the textual information into the input device. The input device is in electrical communication with the controller. The controller takes the users inputs and generates commands to control light elements arrayed into a display. The user creates the display by arranging and connecting a series of display modules to form a combined display. Providing the ability to arrange and connect a series of displays provides customization not seen in other displays.

Referring now toFIG. 1in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a modular display and controller according to the present application is illustrated. System101is a depiction of an improved module display and controller. System101includes an input device105, a controller111, and a display115.

The input device105is preferably a smart phone having a wireless module or transceiver for digital communications with the controller111. The preferred standard for wireless communications between the controller111and the input device105is Bluetooth. It should be apparent that other wireless personal area network standards are contemplated such as Wi-Fi, Infrared, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and 6LoWPAN. Controller111is able to command the display115to illuminate other information from the input device such as stock prices and emails when their IFTTT recipes are triggered on the input device. Input device105is configured for converting the spoken words of the user into ASCII characters for transmission to the controller111.

A user of system101preferably speaks into a microphone of input device105. Input device105converts the human language into alphanumeric information. The alphanumeric information is wirelessly sent to the controller111which in turn drives display115to illuminate corresponding light elements such that the user's spoken words are illuminated on the display115. Alternatively, the user is able to type into the input device105the alphanumeric information they want illuminated on the display115via a keyboard.

Display115includes twenty five sockets. Each socket containing an individually controlled lighting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) or incandescent bulb. Preferably each LED is of the same color. Display115is illustrated as being square in shape however other shapes are contemplated such as rectangular, diamond, curved, circular, and so forth. Each display includes a quantity of columns, such as first column115a, and rows, such as first row115a. For the system101to work with multiple displays, each display must include the same number of rows so that the scrolling message appears correctly as it scrolls from display to display.

Each edge of the display115includes a half of a coupling so that the display115can be physically coupled to another display. It should be apparent that each edge of the display115can be connected to another display to form a series of displays.

System101typically includes a single input device105, a single controller111, and several displays115of various shapes and sizes. Users are able to mechanically attach several displays together to form a loop or annular shape. The loop or ring shape of displays is preferred because of the scrolling nature of the displays. As the scrolling text ends on the far end of the chain of display it starts again on the near end. Locating the far end near the near end creates an illusion of never ending text scrolling across the chain of modular displays. Electrically, the chain of modular displays includes the controller at the near end and serially connected displays wired together.

Referring now also toFIG. 2in the drawings, a plan view of an embodiment of a controller according to the present application is illustrated. Controller201converts the wireless commands from the input device into series data for illuminating the array of lighting elements on the display. Controller201includes an input power plug203, a wireless module205, a first regulator209, a second regulator215, a voltage shifter219, a micro controller225, a USB plug219, and a RJ11 plug235, and a series data plug239. Alternatively controller201further comprises a photo-resistive sensor for adjusting the brightness of the display relative to the ambient lighting around the system. Typically controller is battery powered into the input power plug203however, this application contemplates plugging the controller into a standard wall outlet for non-portable installations.

Wireless module205or receiver is preferably a Bluetooth transceiver for wireless communication with the input device. Wireless module provides the digital input for the micro controller225. It should be apparent that other wireless personal area network standards are contemplated such as Wi-Fi, Infrared, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and 6LoWPAN to be received by wireless module205. First regulator209and second regulator215provide the supply voltages to the wireless module205, the voltage shifter219, and the micro controller225from the input power plug203.

Micro controller225receives digital instructions via a RS-232 bus from the wireless module205. Micro controller225creates a serial stream of data corresponding to the commands from the input device. The serial stream of data is outputted from the series data plug239to the display. USB plug219allows a user to program operating instruction of the wireless module205. RJ11 plug235allows a user to program operating instruction of the micro controller225.

Referring now also toFIG. 3in the drawings, a plan view of an embodiment of a display module according to the present application is illustrated. Display module301converts the serial data for illuminating the array of lighting elements on the display into lighting commands. Display module301includes a first serial data socket305, a second serial data socket309, a voltage regulator315, a plurality of shift registers325, and a plurality of lighting elements333.

Regulator315converts the 12V supply voltage to 5V for the lighting elements333. Lighting elements333are single bulb light emitting diodes arrayed to form a grid like structure. Shift registers325convert the serial data from the controller into individual commands for the individual lighting elements333.

Referring now also toFIG. 4in the drawings, a detailed schematic of an embodiment of a controller according to the present application is illustrated. Controller401converts the wireless commands from the input device into series data for illuminating the array of lighting elements on the display. Controller401includes an input power plug403, a wireless module405, a first regulator409, a second regulator415, a voltage shifter419, a micro controller425, a USB plug419, a RJ11 plug435, and a series data plug439.

Referring now also toFIGS. 5, 6, and 7in the drawings, detailed schematics of an embodiment of a display module according to the present application are illustrated. Display module501converts the serial data for illuminating the array of lighting elements on the display into lighting commands. Display module501includes a first serial data socket505, a second serial data socket509, a regulator515, a plurality of shift registers525, and a plurality of lighting elements533.

Referring now also toFIGS. 8A and 8Bin the drawings, front view of an embodiment of a modular display system according to the present application is illustrated. System801includes a plurality of display modules interconnected serially to a controller (not shown). Each of the plurality of display modules contains an equal number of rows. Controller is typically hidden from the front view behind one of the display modules for aesthetic purposes. A user was able to combine two square display modules811with five rectangular display modules821to form a ring shaped continuous display. As shown the user spoke into the input device the phrase “HI BOB” and the phrase “HI BOB” was illuminated. It should be apparent that lighting element835is off and lighting element837is on. The message835will scroll down the length of the ring as certain lighting elements are switched on or off as needed to spell “HI BOB.” The modular display elements such as square display modules811and rectangular display module821allow users to design and assembly a scrolling textual display to suit their own tastes and needs. For example, a user can add scrolling text to a picture frame by assembling a series of modular display elements into a ring and attaching the display ring to the outer edge of the picture frame. Because picture frames come in a variety of sizes the modular nature of the system801allows users to customize their picture frames.

The scrolling textual display can be seen when comparingFIG. 8A to 8B. The position of the text “HI BOB” has been shifted over one column. The speed of the scrolling text across the display is adjustable by the user.

Referring now also toFIG. 9in the drawings, a front view of an alternate embodiment of a modular display system according to the present application is illustrated. System901includes square display modules911and curved display modules921to form a flat ring suitable for hanging on a wall. Alternately, a user can create a heart shaped sign from a few curved display modules with a few straight display modules.

Referring now also toFIG. 10in the drawings, an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of a modular display system according to the present application is illustrated. System1001includes square display modules1011and rectangular display modules1021. System1001faces the display modules outwardly such that the message displayed can be seen from more than one side of the system unlike the system901.

System901can include an attachment bracket for coupling the system to a drone vehicle. The modular nature of the system901allows users to adjust the size of the system901to match the footprint and payload capacity of the user's drone. The sizes of drones can vary greatly and requires displays that can adjust accordingly.

Referring now also toFIG. 11in the drawings, a front view of an alternate embodiment of a modular display system according to the present application is illustrated. Modular display1101unlike the modular displays described above do not include a lighting element in every socket. Modular display1101allows a user to further customize their sign by individualizing each lighting element in each socket. For example, the user placed a three color LED1111in column1row4, single color LED's1121in column2, and three color LED's1131in column4.