Abstract:
A sign structure having a display, movable member and computer means creates a unique vehicle for displaying content. In one version, the movable member is adjacent to the display and substantially shields a portion of the display as it traverses thereover. Coordinated content transmitted to the display gives the appearance that the movable member is influencing the displayed content. For example, as the member moves upward an image below the member stretches in size while an image above the member compresses in size until the upper image disappears and the lower image occupies the entire visible portion of the display. This continues as the member traverses up and down over the display. The member may appear to manipulate the images by stretching, compressing, pushing, pulling and/or erasing them.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The embodiments of the present invention relate to electronic displays and their operation. More particularly, the embodiments relate to displaying content in a unique manner.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     With advancements in technology, electronic displays, including LED displays, LCD displays, plasma displays and digital displays, are now commonplace. Any walk through Times Square or along the Las Vegas Strip evidences the fascination with current displays. In such locations the displays are many stories tall such that they are impossible to overlook. The ability to display images and video on such large displays provides the associated businesses with a great deal of versatility in promoting their amenities. For example, a casino may show video clips of a concert by a specific band scheduled to perform live in the casino or show video clips of gaming action on its casino floor.  
         [0003]     Similarly, smaller electronic displays are more and more prominent throughout our culture. Airports, hotels and other public locations provide smaller displays for businesses to promote goods and/or services and to attract new customers.  
         [0004]     One important advance in display technology, even with larger displays, is the ability to display extremely sharp images or video. Thus, more and more businesses are utilizing the high quality displays to promote their goods and/or services. In particular, most casinos operate one or more large displays on a street front to entertain, educate and attract passersby regarding the casino&#39;s amenities, attractions and promotions. The Strip in Las Vegas is well-known for its vast number of resort casinos and their corresponding enormous displays.  
         [0005]     Unfortunately, even with the display of sharp images and video, the displays themselves are static and other than the displayed subject matter do not tend to attract viewers. It would be beneficial to develop a more dynamic display unit for presenting images and video content in a more dramatic fashion thereby garnering the attention of a larger number of passersby and attracting more visitors to the corresponding casino or other underlying business.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a display in combination with a dynamic cabinet or carriage. The dynamic cabinet conceals portions of the display as it moves over the display. In a first embodiment, the cabinet moves in upward and downward directions. As a consequence, the cabinet conceals a horizontal segment or strip of the display as it moves thereover.  
         [0007]     A computer or similar electronic device controls the cabinet and content presented on the display. As a result, the content on the display is presented so that it appears to be manipulated by the cabinet. For example, while a first image or video clip is being shown on the display, the cabinet may begin to move downward over the display. As the cabinet moves downward, a second image or video clip, or portion thereof, is presented on the display above the level of the cabinet such that the first image is not visible above the cabinet. However, the first image, or a portion thereof, continues to be visible on the display below the level of the cabinet. In this manner, the cabinet appears to be manipulating the displayed images or video clips. In other words, in but one example, the cabinet may appear to erase the first image or video clip and replacing it with the second image or video clip. In fact, the computer is controlling the display of content in cooperation with the movement of the cabinet to present the desired appearance.  
         [0008]     Therefore, the use of the cabinet, display and computer creates a more dramatic method to display static and video images or content. Such a method is especially useful in an environment wherein multiple high quality displays are vying for attention. Moreover, there are numerous other content manipulations beyond that disclosed above. Several other such display manipulations are disclosed and described below. In addition, other embodiments and objects of the present invention will become evident as the present invention is described in further detail below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a display device utilizing a cabinet of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the display device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a display device support;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a mechanical cabinet control system;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective side view of one control tower of the mechanical cabinet control system of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of side view of one control tower of the mechanical cabinet control system of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the control tower of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a pulley device of the mechanical cabinet control system;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a counter-weight assembly of the mechanical cabinet control system;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a motor and winch assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a diagram of a computer network for operating the display and mechanical cabinet control system; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a flow chart of one practical application of the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     It should be understood that the following detailed description utilizes a specific display design incorporating the inventive and unique features described herein. However, the inventive and unique features are independent of any particular display design. Moreover, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to large structural display devices but are just as useful with any display device size. As used below, image may refer to a static image, display graphic, video clip or live video feed.  
         [0022]     Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout.  FIGS. 1-2  illustrate a display device generally designated by reference numeral  100 . The display device  100  includes a display  110 , support pylon  120  and cabinet  130 . In the example shown, the cabinet  130  is movable in a vertical direction over the display  110 . In this manner, as it moves the cabinet  130  is made to appear to manipulate the two images  140 - 1  and  140 - 2 . For example, referring to  FIGS. 1-2  and assuming the cabinet  130  is moving downward, the concert image  140 - 1  stretches to cover the portion of the display  110  above the cabinet  130  while the woman on the rope image  140 - 2  compresses until the cabinet  130  reaches its bottom maximum position such that the concert image  140 - 1  occupies the entire visible portion of the display  100  and the woman on the rope image  140 - 2  disappears.  
         [0023]     The manipulation of the images  140 - 1  and  140 - 2  may take many forms. In another version, as the cabinet moves  130  from a maximum top or bottom position, the first image, in this case as the cabinet  130  moves downward, the concert image  140 - 1 , appears to be pulled onto the display  110  as the second image, in this case the woman on the rope image  140 - 2 , appears to be pushed off the display  110 . In other words, neither image  140 - 1  or  140 - 2  is altered proportionally but the total images  140 - 1  and  140 - 2  appear to be moving in a downward direction. In another alternative version, images  140 - 1  and  140 - 2  may appear to be stretched and compressed, respectively. In such a version, each image  1401 - and  140 - 2  is displayed in full albeit the images are sometimes in a stretched or compressed state. In another alternative version, the cabinet  130  acts like an eraser appearing to systematically erase one image as the other image takes its place. Other image manipulations, including manipulations created by utilizing a vertically positioned cabinet which moves left to right, are conceivable.  
         [0024]     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a display device support  150  comprises a series of support pillars  160 - 1  through  160 - 3 , a support frame  170  and a cabinet frame  180 . The support frame  170  and cabinet frame  180  comprise a series of truss components which are ideally fabricated of a metal alloy, such as aluminum or steel. The pillars  160 - 1  through  160 - 3  each include footings  190 - 1  through  190 - 3 . In practice, the footings  190 - 1  through  190 - 3  are planted in the ground to support the remaining portion of the display structure  150  which extends above ground level. Ideally the footings  190 - 1  through  190 - 3  are formed of concrete or similar material.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 3  and others, the V-shaped display device support  150  may accommodate two generally oppositely facing displays  110  utilizing a single cabinet frame  180 . In this arrangement, passersby from opposite directions may view similarly manipulated content.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a partially transparent view of the display device  100 . Three vertical trusses  200 - 1  through  200 - 3  act as control towers for a mechanical cabinet control system. The trusses  200 - 1  through  200 - 3  each support a pulley system  210 - 1  through  210 - 3  at each end thereof and a counterweight assembly  220 - 1  through  220 - 3 . The display device support  150  further supports two pulley systems comprising an upper pulley system  230  and a lower pulley system  240 . A network of cables  250  joins the counterweight assemblies  220 - 1  through  220 - 3  to a motor and winch assembly  260  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 10 ). The motor and winch assembly  260  drive the movements of the cabinet  130 . The cabinet  130  is supported by pickup devices  280 - 1  through  280 - 3  which ascend and descend along guide tracks  285 - 1  through  285 - 3 . A motor control center  270  communicates and instructs the motor and winch  260 . As described below, the motor control center  270  receives its instructions from one or more computers.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a perspective view and side view, respectively, of the single truss section  200 - 1 . As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the pickup device  280 - 1 , along with the other pickup devices, is able to ascend and descend along its guide track  285 - 1  on an outer portion of the truss section  200 - 1  thereby moving the attached cabinet  130  (not shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) in a predetermined fashion. As seen in  FIG. 4 , each pick up device  280 - 1  through  280 - 3  has a corresponding guide track  285 - 1  through  285 - 3 . The operation of the pickup devices  280 - 1  though  280 - 3  is facilitated by the counterweight assemblies  220 - 1  through  220 - 3  which reside, and are free to ascend and descend, within an interior portion of said truss sections  200 - 1  through  200 - 3 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the display device  100  with certain internal features, including the pulley systems  210 - 1  through  210 - 3 , cables  250 , motor and winch assembly  260  and motor control center  270 , exposed. The cabinet  130  is also shown in place.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 8-10  show detailed views of the pulley system  210 - 1 , counterweight assembly  220 - 1  and the motor and winch assembly  260 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the pulley system  210 - 1  includes a first wheel  310  aligned with a and second wheel  320  and a pulley support member  330 . The first wheel  310  supports four cables  250  secured at a first end to the counterweight assembly  220 - 1  and the second wheel  320  supports a single cable  255  attached at a first end to the counterweight assembly  220 - 1 . The single cable  255  then extends to the upper pulley system  230  and lower pulley system  240  and eventually to connection with the motor and winch assembly  260 . Each end of the truss section  200 - 1  incorporates an identical pulley system  210 - 1 . Similarly, identical pulley systems  210 - 2  and  210 - 3  are secured to each end of the truss sections  200 - 2  and  200 - 3 , respectively. The pulley systems  210 - 2  and  210 - 3  accommodate identical cable arrangements as well.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows the counterweight assembly  220 - 1  within the confines of the truss section  200 - 1 . The counterweight assembly  220 - 1  is slidably engaged to parallel tracks  335  which extend the height of the truss section  200 - 1 . Cables  250  and  255  are attached to an upper portion of the counterweight assembly. Cables  250 ′ and  255 ′ extend from underneath the counterweight assembly  220 - 1 .  
         [0031]     The motor and winch assembly  260  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The assembly  260  includes a base  340 , cable drum  350 , air accumulator  360  and junction box  370 . In practice, the cable drum  350  is engaged by at least one cable from the mechanical cabinet control system. As needed, the cable drum  350  is driven by the motor  380  of the motor and winch assembly  260  thereby raising or lowering the cabinet  130  as needed. In most instances, the movement of the cabinet  130  is systematic and routine in an upward direction to a maximum limit and then downward to a maximum limit (or vice versa) and so on. However, the content being displayed ultimately dictates the nature of the cabinet  130  movement.  
         [0032]     The operation of the display device  100 , including the display  110 , cabinet  130  and related features, is controlled by one or more computer processors.  FIG. 11  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer network  400  for operating the display device  100 . The network  400  comprises a content creation portion  500  and storage and IT portion  600 .  
         [0033]     The content creation portion  500  facilitates the creation of content or material for viewing on the one or more displays  110 . In one embodiment, the content creation portion  500  comprises at least a personal computer system  510  having a central processing unit (CPU)  520 , display  530  and keyboard  540 . Suitable software for one exemplary computer system  510  includes a WindowsXP Pro® operating system, Adobe AfterEffects® and Adobe Premier®. The Adobe® software provides a means for personnel to create, manipulate and view content for later display on the display device  100 . Suitable hardware components include a Pentium 4® 3.0 GB CPU, 2.0 GB of Ram and 200 GBx2 Raid Drives. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other software and/or hardware is just as suitable for the desired task of creating, manipulating and viewing display content.  
         [0034]     Optionally, a plasma screen  550  or the equivalent may be connected to the computer system  510  to provide an enhanced device for previewing content creations. Ideally, the computer display  530  and/or plasma screen  550  recreate the concealment of the cabinet  130  thereby providing a realistic impression of the final product to be displayed on the display device  100 .  
         [0035]     Once content is created, it is transmitted to the storage portion  600  of the computer network  400 . The transmission may occur via a wired Ethernet connection  560 , such as fiber or Cat 5 wiring, or may be accomplished via a wireless connection. The storage portion  600  consists of one or more file servers  610 , a live video server  620  and one or more switches  630 . Suitable file server  610  models include a Dell® PowerEdge 4600 running on a Windows® platform. A suitable storage unit utilizes 146 GB of Raid 5 Drives. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other software and/or hardware is just as suitable for the desired task of storing and transmitting data, such as instructions and content, via stored media Ethernet Switch/Hub  640 , to the display  110 . The live video server  620  receives content from a live video source  625  and streams it via a real-time live video Ethernet Switch/Hub  650  to the display  110 . Ideally, the streaming and transmission of data to the display  110  is facilitated by fiber connections  660 .  
         [0036]     Control of the cabinet  130  is effectuated by its connection with the one or more file servers  610 . That is, the content being displayed and the movement of the cabinet  130  work in tandem to create the desired effect on the display  110 . Accordingly, the file servers  610 , namely the stored data, ensure the speed and direction of the cabinet  130  work in unison with the content to produce the desired effect.  
         [0037]     In one embodiment, the display  110  is a light emitting diode (LED) display comprising 1200 pixels in a 100 foot vertical orientation and 608 pixels in a 50 foot-8 inch horizontal orientation. The number of pixels may be modified to alter the overall resolution of the display  110 . The display  110  is segmented into a plurality of horizontal portions  670  with each portion  670  having a player module  680  and one or more LED control interfaces  690 . The player modules  680  stream content data, including video, from the file servers  610  or the live video server  620  and use the content to drive the LEDs via the LED control interfaces  690 . Obviously, other display types, including LCD, plasma and digital, may be used in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0038]     In this manner, the cabinet  130  is used in combination with the content data to create a unique display of information. For example, as disclosed above, manipulations may facilitate the appearance of a push-pull, stretch-compress or eraser scenario involving multiple images displayed, at least in part, simultaneously.  
         [0039]     The computer processors and related systems of the embodiments of the present invention are capable of generating error notices regarding display device  100  operation to personnel maintaining the display device  100 . Accordingly, any system or component malfunction can be quickly evaluated and repaired to keep the display device  100  downtime to a minimum.  
         [0040]     As seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , it is also conceivable for the cabinet  130  to include promotional material  115  in the form of permanent logos, trademarks and related information or the cabinet  130 . The promotional material  115  on the cabinet may be presented by means of a plurality of lights. Indeed, the lights may be programmed to illuminate such that the signature is completed in a handwriting fashion. Alternatively, the logo  115  may be formed of any visible non-illumination material.  
         [0041]     Now referring to  FIG. 12 , a flow chart  700  details one general embodiment of the present system. At step  710 , display content is created and viewed using a computer system including software and hardware components. Once the content is approved, at step  720 , the content is transmitted to one or more file servers for storage. At step  730 , the stored content is transmitted to a display device incorporating a movable cabinet. Optionally, at step  740 , live video may also be transmitted to the display in combination with said stored content or on its own. At step  750 , the content is displayed on the subject display in conjunction with cabinet movements thereby creating the desired visual presentation.  
         [0042]     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention.