Abstract:
An electronic sign display having an internal infrared communication system, includes a plurality of display panels each of which includes an infrared receiver and an infrared transmitter for passage of data information. The display panels slidingly align along a front panel. Each display panel is linked to an adjacent display panel by an infrared data link, and information received therefrom is displayed upon the appropriate display panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is for a sign display and, more particularly, is an electronic sign display having an internal infrared communication system. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art electronic sign displays have been provided and used often to display information in stadiums, arenas, large halls, and the like. Often the electronic sign displays have been mounted at the edge of a ring or balcony structure above the first floor level at a position and level highly viewable to participants. Servicing of the electronic sign displays often required the use of access devices such as ladders, cherry pickers, elevating devices or other elaborate and expensive devices due to the elevated position of the electronic sign display on the ring structure. Often seating structures offered ground level interference for the usage of these service devices. Other problems encountered with the servicing of the electronic sign displays were that the rearward side of the electronic sign display structure was mounted to a flat elevated mounting surface and servicing required access through the back of the unit, thereby requiring removal of the sign from the mounting surface. Removal of the sign could be accomplished by the use of the access devices or by physically removing the sign structure or part of the sign structure while standing in the balcony or ring in a position adjacent to the electronic sign display at the edge of the ring. Another problem encountered with prior art electronic sign displays was that the changing of numerous hardwired connections was laborious and time consuming. Clearly what is needed is an electronic sign display which does not require expensive, cumbersome or dangerous methods for access and which also minimizes the time spent replacing or servicing the electronic sign display. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is a sign display with an internal infrared communication system. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sign display with an internal infrared communication system. A plurality of aligned display panels having LEDs are located on the front panel of an enclosure to display information. Each display panel slidingly engages channels located in the front panel for adjacent positioning along the front panel. A hinged access door above each display panel can be opened to provide vertical access to the display panel so that the display panel can be sliding disengaged in a vertical fashion from the front panel. Each display panel includes a rearwardly located infrared receiver and infrared transmitter for communicatingly transmitting information from one display panel to the adjacent display panels. A master infrared transmitter adjacent to one end of the aligned display panels transmits information to an adjacent display panel which is subsequently distributed along the infrared receivers and transmitters located on each display panel to provide information for the display image shown on each display panel. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a sign display with an internal infrared communication system where information is directed along a series of adjacent display panels to provide output data for each display panel. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the use of individual display panels which slidingly engage channels in a front panel of an enclosure. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is access doors on the enclosure top panel which provide access to each display panel. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is sign display with an internal infrared communication system which is easily accessible from the top. 
     Having thus described an embodiment of the present invention and enumerated some of the significant aspects and features thereof, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a sign display with an internal infrared communication system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a sign display with an internal infrared communication system, the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an end view, in partial cutaway, of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; and, 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system showing the engagement of the display panels with a channel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a sign display with an internal infrared communication system  10 , the present invention. An enclosure  12  includes a front panel  14 , a top panel  16 , end panels  18  and  20 , a removable back panel  22 , and a bottom panel  24 . A plurality of display panels  26   a - 26   n  are adjacently located along the front panel  14  for dissemination of information provided by light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light emitting devices. Display panel  26   a  is shown removed from the front panel  14  as it would be for changeout or repair, thereby revealing the structure to which the display panel  26   a  slidingly engages as well as showing an opening  28   a  to which the display panel  26   a  and a hinged access door  30   a  align. Openings  28   a - 28   n  extend vertically along the front panel  14  and horizontally along the top panel  16 . Hinged access doors  30   a - 30   n  align adjacently along the top panel  16  in alignment with the respective openings  28   a - 28   n  and with and over and about the tops of the display panels  26   a - 26   n . A plurality of vertically aligned channels  32   a - 32   n  extend downwardly along the front panel  14  to define the vertical component of the openings  28   a - 28   n  and to slidingly accommodate the display panels  26   a - 26   n . Each display panel  26   a - 26   n  includes an LED display matrix  34 , an infrared receiver  36 , and an infrared transmitter  38 . A plurality of stop brackets  40   a - 40   n , of which only stop bracket  40   a  is shown in FIG. 1, extend inwardly from the lower edges of the openings  28   a - 28   n . Correspondingly, a horizontally extending support panel  42  (shown in FIG. 2) extends from the lower region of each display panel  26   a - 26   n  to impinge upon the respective stop brackets  40   a - 40   n , thereby limiting the downward descent and providing for vertical alignment of each display panel  26   a - 26   n  in the channels  32   a - 32   n.    
     FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system  10 , where all numerals mentioned previously correspond to those elements previously described. Illustrated in dashed lines are apertures  50  located in each of the display panels  26   a - 26   n  through which the associated LED display matrix  34  is visible on the opposite side of the front panel  14 . A plurality of horizontally oriented support bars  49   a - 49   n , of which  49   a - 49   c  are shown, align along the undersurface of the top panel  16 . The support bars  49   a - 49   n  provide support for the channels  32   a - 32   n  and also define a portion of the openings  28   a - 28   n . Also visible are brackets  52  and  54  secured to the rear sides of the display panels  26   a - 26   n . Brackets  52  and  54  serve as mounts for the support panels  42 , and each bracket  52  and  54  also serves as a mount for an infrared receiver  36  and an infrared transmitter  38 , respectively. Also shown is a bracket  51  secured to the rear side of the front panel  14  which serves as a mount for a support panel  55  and a master infrared transmitter  44  which is for transmitting of desired infrared data information to the infrared receiver  36  on the first display panel  26   a . Infrared data information for display is detected and then displayed on the display matrix  34  of the display panel  26   a . Data information is passed on and retransmitted by the infrared transmitter  38  on the first display panel  26   a  to the infrared receiver  36  on the second display panel  26   b  where data information is detected and displayed on the display matrix  34  of the display panel  26   b . Such data is received, detected, displayed, and retransmitted along each of the display panels  26   a - 26   n  from one to the other in succession. Although infrared receivers  36  and transmitters  38  are shown as separate units, combined infrared receivers and transmitters could be incorporated as a single unit, and the use thereof shall not be construed to be limiting to the scope of the invention. Also shown is a female connector block  48  secured to each support panel  42  of the display panels  26   a - 26   n  for connecting supply voltage to each of the display panels  26   a - 26   n  via male pin connector blocks  46   a - 46   n  carried by the stop brackets  40   a - 40   n.    
     FIG. 3 illustrates an end view, in partial cutaway, of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system  10  generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, where all numerals mentioned previously correspond to those elements previously described. Also shown is the plurality of LEDs  56   a - 56   n  of the LED display matrix  34  viewable through the aperture  50 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the sign display with an internal infrared communication system  10  showing the engagement of the display panels  26   a - 26   b  with a channel  32   b , where all numerals mentioned previously correspond to those elements previously described. Channel  32   b  is representative of channels  32   a  and  32   c - 32   n , which are of similar construction, each including opposing channels  58   a  and  58   b  for sliding engagement with each of the display panels  26   a - 26   n . The edge  26   a - 2  of the display panel  26   a  slidingly engages channel  58   a , and the edge  26   b - 1  of the display panel  26   b  slidingly engages channel  58   b . Display panels  26   a - 26   n  slidingly engage the channels  32   a - 32   n  and contact the stop brackets  40   a - 40   n  (shown in FIG.  2 ), whereby the infrared transmitters  38  and infrared receivers  36  are brought into mutual alignment, as also shown in FIG.  2 . Data link transmission and reception of infrared information  60  between the infrared transmitter  38  and the infrared receiver  36  is shown. 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 sign display with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 an internal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 infrared 
               
               
                   
                   
                 communication 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 enclosure 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 front panel 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 top panel 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 end panel 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 end panel 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 back panel 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 bottom panel 
               
               
                   
                 26a-n 
                 display panels 
               
               
                   
                 26a-2 
                 edge 
               
               
                   
                 26b-1 
                 edge 
               
               
                   
                 28a-b 
                 openings 
               
               
                   
                 30a-n 
                 access doors 
               
               
                   
                 32a-n 
                 channels 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 display matrix 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 infrared receiver 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 infrared 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transmitter 
               
               
                   
                 40a-n 
                 stop brackets 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 support panel 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 master infrared 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transmitter 
               
               
                   
                 46a-n 
                 male pin connector 
               
               
                   
                   
                 blocks 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 female connector 
               
               
                   
                   
                 block 
               
               
                   
                 49a-n 
                 support bars 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 aperture 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 support panel 
               
               
                   
                 56a-n 
                 LEDs 
               
               
                   
                 58a-b 
                 channels 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 infrared information