Patent Publication Number: US-2011075341-A1

Title: Display Assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to display panels and more particularly to a configurable assembly of display panels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a present day trend to place multiple display panels, or screens, along side each other to form an assembly showing multiple digital images at once. The multiple images may form a single larger image, or may form a mosaic of different images. Furthermore, any of the images may be a moving one, such as television show, or a static image. It is popular in a domestic setting to use several digital photograph frames of relatively small size to display an array of digital family portraits. 
     Unfortunately, such arrangements are expensive or difficult to set up and maintain. Partly, the physical arrangement of such display panels is not easy and the display panels are prone to falling over and must be delicately balanced or installed. Furthermore, such display panels each come with a processor for processing the digital images and the total cost for displaying several images can add up to an expensive sum. Furthermore, every display panels requires a separate power supply. Furthermore, such display panels may receive image signals from an external source. Thus, the electric and signal cables impose a limitation on the arrangement of the display panels. Firstly, it is difficult to hide the cables from view. Furthermore, it is also difficult to be creative with the arrangement due to the need to organise the many cables to the different display panels. After the display panels have been arranged, it is troublesome to re-arrange the display panels. Generally, the greater the number of display panels, the more difficult it is to organise the mess of cables and the different software needed to show pictures of different digital format. 
     In some conventional display assemblies, a large metal rack is provided into which the display panels of the same size is fitted in an orderly arrangement to from a large screen. It is impossible to change the arrangement of the assembly because the metal rack is not made for varying the display panel arrangement. 
     Therefore it is desirable to provide a way to make the management of the signal and electric cables of a plurality of display panels easier, and to provide a possibility to vary the arrangement of the display panels in order to allow more creative ways to display images. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, the invention proposes a display assembly comprising a mounting board, an attachment device on the mounting board, at least one display panel mounted to the attachment device, the mounting board capable of providing power to operate the at least one display panel. 
     In a second aspect, the invention proposes a mounting board comprising an attachment device, the attachment device for attaching to a display panel; and power connection to operate the display panels. 
     In the third aspect, the invention proposes a display panel for mounting to an attachment device of a mounting board, wherein the mounting board provides power to operate the display panel. 
     Preferably, the at least one display panel is removably mounted to the attachment device. Preferably, the at least one display panel is mounted to the attachment device such that the at least one display panel can be moved to change the angle of the at least one display panel to the mounting board. Preferably, the position attachment device on the mounting board is movable. 
     Advantageously, the invention provides the possibility of having a device with a simple power supply to support one-to-many photograph frames or multiple display panels. Furthermore, the invention provides the possibility of mounting different display panels in different positions on the mounting board, in different angular rotation. Thus, the invention provides the possibility of a variety of creative arrangement of the display panels to show different images. 
     Preferably, the mounting board is capable of providing power to operate the at least one display panel by induction. 
     Preferably, the display panels are able to receive data signal wirelessly. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention proposes a mounting board, two or more display panels mounted to the mounting board; wherein one of the display panels comprises a processor; and the other display panels relying on the processor in the one of the display panels to process image data. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention proposes a mounting board, wherein the mounting board comprises a data bus for a first display panel attached to the mounting board to access a processor in a second display panel attached to the mounting board, wherein the processor in the second display panel processing image data for the display panel. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention proposes a display panel for mounting to a mounting board, wherein the display panel relies on a processor in another display panel mounted to the mounting board to process image data. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention proposes a display panel for mounting to a mounting board, wherein the display panel has a processor for processing image data for another display panel mounted to the mounting board. 
     Thus, specific embodiments of the invention provide ease of assembly particularly the embodiments which uses wireless data signal connection and wireless display panel. These embodiments possibly improve the convenience of assembling a display assembly due to reduced cablings for power or data signal connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       It will be convenient to further describe the present invention with respect to the accompanying drawings that illustrate possible embodiments of the invention, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a part of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an further part of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a possible arrangement of the part illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative arrangement of the part illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  is another illustration of the further part of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates how the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is deployed; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates how the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is alternatively deployed; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates how the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is alternatively deployed; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates yet another alternative internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates yet another alternative internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates yet another alternative internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13   a  illustrates yet another alternative internal architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 14   a  to  14   f  illustrate a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 18  how the embodiment of  FIG. 17  is used in one possibility. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment  100  which is an assembly of a plurality of display panels  103  and a mounting board  101 . The display panels  103 ,  103   a  are capable of displaying both static and moving images, and can be any type of display monitor, such as an LCD, OLED, a plasma panel and so on. The display panels  103  are mounted to the mounting board  101  in such a way that the position of the display panels  103  relative to the mounting board  101  is variable. For example, the display panels  103   a  can also be arranged on the mounting board  101  in different rotated positions. Furthermore, the display panels  130  can be removed from one location on the mounting board  101  and placed on another location on the mounting board  101 . 
     Having a plurality of display panels  103  on the mounting board  101  allows images from different data sources to be shown at once. For example, one display panel  103  is showing a moving image, such as a television program, while another display panel  103  is showing a static image, such as a digital photograph. 
     The mounting board  101  obtains power from a power mains supply  105 , and transfers the power to operate the display panels  103 . Furthermore, the mounting board  101  is connected to one or more data signal cables  107  to receive data signals for display by the display panels  103 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the mounting board  101  without the display panels  103  mounted, and reveals a plurality of ‘attachment points’  109 . Each attachment point  109  comprises an attachment device for mounting the display panels  103  to the mounting board  101 . The attachment device is, optionally, a hinge, a buckle, a mechanical slot, or an adhesive tape or glue, or any other device or means as the skilled man would know, which cooperates with a corresponding attachment device on the display panels  103 . 
     Preferably, the attachment device allows each panel to be removably mounted such that the user is able to vary the location of the display panels on the mounting board  101 , or vary the angle of the display panels to the mounting board  101 . 
     Preferably, the attachment device is a ball and socket snap-on connection, which allows the display panels  103  to be rotated into different angles relatively to the mounting board  101 . 
     The arrangement of the attachment points  109  on the mounting board  101  shown in  FIG. 2  is just one possible arrangement, wherein the attachment points  109  are arranged in orderly rows and columns. The position of a display panel  103  on the mounting board  101  is a matter of choice of which attachment point  109  to attach the display panels  103 . Thus, it is possible that a different number of display panels  103  can placed in different arrangements on the mounting board. 
     A power cable  105  and a data signal cable  107  are laid inside the mounting board  101  and are available for connecting to the display panels  103  at each attachment point  109 .  FIG. 3  shows how the power cable  105  and data signal cable  107  as well as the attachment device  301  is available at the attachment point  109 . Optionally, the attachment point  109  has a hole that allows the connectors of the electric cable  105  and the data signal cable  107  inside the mounting board  101  to emerge. Furthermore, the attachment device  301  for mounting the display panel  103  is also located in the hole. Thus, a display panel  103  mounted to the attachment point  109  can be connected to the power cable  105  and data signal cable  107  from the same hole. A cover  111  is provided to cover the hole, so that when the power cable  105  and data signal cable  107  are not in use, the hole is covered to look flat and neat and to protect the cables from dust. 
     For greater variation, even the location of the attachment points  109  is varied in different versions of the mounting board  101 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative example in which the attachment points  109  are arranged in ring on the mounting board  101 .  FIG. 5  illustrates yet another alternative example, in which the attachment points  109  are arranged in staggered neighbouring rows. Compared with the arrangement of the attachment points  109  in  FIG. 2 , the staggered neighbouring rows of attachment points  109  in the layout of  FIG. 5  allows a smaller number of attachment points  109  to cover more area of mounting board  101 . Generally, however, the greater the density of attachment points  109  on the mounting board  101 , the greater the number of possible variations to the position of display panels  103  on the mounting board  101 . 
     Furthermore, the angle or orientation of display panels  103  can be rotated, so that some of the display panels  103  are slanted while other display panels  103  are oriented upright (see  FIG. 1 ). The extent to which the display panels  103  can be rotated depends on the type of attachment device used at the attachment point  109 . The aforementioned ball and socket attachment device allows a display panel  103  to be rotated in three-dimension space, only to be limited when an edge or side of the display panel  103  touches the surface of the mounting board  101 . 
       FIG. 5   a  is a transparent view of a mounting board from its back, showing a receiving socket, which is an example of an attachment device  301 , on the mounting board  101 . The receiving socket  301  is able to snap onto a ball device on the back of a display panel  103 , which is a corresponding attachment device  301   a , to hold the display panel on the mounting board  101  such that the display panel is free to be rotated into different positions about the attachment device  301 .  FIG. 3   a  also shows how the electric power cable  105  and the data signal cable  107  is threaded inside the mounting board  101  to emerge at a hole at the attachment point  109 , to be connected to corresponding electric power connector  105   a  and a corresponding data signal connector  107   a  at the back of the display panel.  FIG. 3   a  only illustrates one attachment device  301  and one attachment point  109 , but the skill man understands that there is a plurality of such attachment points  109  and attachment points  109  in some embodiments. 
     If yet greater degree of movement is desired, it is possible to use an extendible supporting arm, not illustrated, which is pivoted at one end to the mounting board  101  and which pivoted at the other end to a display panel. Other types of attachment device can be used, as the skilled man knows. 
     The mounting board  101  can be placed anywhere where there is a suitable source of mains.  FIG. 6  shows the mounting board  101  hung onto an indoor wall.  FIG. 7  shows the mounting board  101  put onto a prop stand.  FIG. 8  shows the mounting board  101  onto an outdoor wall. 
     Various examples of the hardware architecture of the display assembly  100  will now be described. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a first example in which the mounting board  101  has a processor  901 , and a memory  909  such as a RAM, an input and output control unit  905  to process and decode the data signal received by the mounting board  101 . The processed data signal data is then fed to the selected display panels via a data bus  907 . Advantageously, this example provides the possibility of a single processor  901  used for a plurality of display panels  103 , # 1  to #N, to show different images. 
     Alternatively, the mounting board  101  does not rely on a data signal cable  107  to receive data signal. Instead, the mounting board  101  contains a non-volatile memory  1107 , which stores the images to be displayed. This is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The data from the non-volatile memory is processed by the processor and sent via a data bus to whichever of the display panels that is supposed to show the image. How to channel the right stream of image data to the right display panel in a network of hardware is known and need not be discussed here. Thus, the data signal cable  107  shown in  FIG. 9  is omitted (as an option) in  FIG. 10 . The skilled man understands that the non-volatile memory can be an internal flash memory, a hard disk drive, a removable optical disc, a removable compact disc, DVD, or external storage devices such as SD, MMC, USB disk etc. 
     Alternatively, wireless data signal transmission is used to send data of the images to be shown in the display panels  103 .  FIG. 11  shows that a transceiver  1101  is provided in each display panel  103 . Data may be transferred to each display panel via WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared, etc. If necessary, the data bus  907  in the mounting board  101  allows the received data signal to be sent from each display panel  103  to the processor  901  to be processed, and for the processed image to be returned to the appropriate display panel  103 . Advantageously, this reduced the amount of wiring within the mounting board  101 . 
     Alternatively, the display panels  103  all operates independently of each other.  FIG. 12  shows that each display panel  103  contains a non-volatile memory  1107  which stores image data to be displayed, and a processor  901  for processing the image data. The skilled man understands that the display panels  103  also comprise any other necessary parts for processing the images stored in the non-volatile memory. In this case, the mounting board  101  only provides electric power to the display panels  103 . This embodiment incurs the extra cost of a processor and non-volatile memory in each panel. However, the advantage is that, if the processor in any of the display panels breaks down, the operation of the other display panels are not affected since the display panels operate independently. 
       FIG. 13  illustrate another example wherein the display assembly  100  has a ‘master display panel’  903 , which is a display panel is like the other display panels in the display assembly except that the master display panel  903  contains a processor  901  to be shared by all other display panels attached to the mounting board  101 . The other display panels, # 1  to #N, are known as ‘secondary’ display panels  903   a . The master display panel  903  comprises a non-volatile memory storage  1107  for storing image data for all the display panels  903   a , and also comprises a processor  901 , RAM  909  and other devices necessary to process image data, as would be known to the skilled man (not illustrated). In operation, the master display panel  903  processes images from the image data stored in the non-volatile memory storage  1107  and sends the images to the appropriate display panel  903 ,  903   a  for display, including to both the master display panel  903  itself and the secondary display panels  903   a.    
       FIG. 13   a  shows a variation of this embodiment  100 , in which the secondary display panels  903   a  each has a non-volatile memory  1107  for storing image data. In this case, the image data is sent from the secondary display panels  903   a  to the master display panel  903  for processing, and then sent back after processing to the appropriate secondary display panel  903 . Typically, the secondary display panels  903  access the processor in the master display panels  903  in turns. Advantageously, this example provides the possibility to save costs by using one processor shared among a plurality of display panels and the flexibility of changing the image data in the display panel easily, such as by replacing an image containing DVD inside one of the display panel. In more detail, the processor  901  reads the image data from the non-volatile memory storage  1107  of one of the display panels, processes the data, and then transmits back to the register memory (not illustrated) of the display panel  903  for display. Depending on the processor  901  and the image data, the duration of such processing may be tens of milliseconds to several seconds. The processor  901  then conducts similar processing on the next display panel  903  and loops the processing. Every display panel  903  keeps showing the processed image data in its register memory until the register memory is updated by the next-round processing of the processor  901 . 
     In another variation of the embodiment  100 , the display panels  103  are powered by a battery installed in each of the display panels  103 , instead of by power cables connected to the display panels  103 . In this case, the mounting board  101  does not provide power to the display panels. The batteries in the display panels are then replaced whenever necessary. 
     In a further variation, the battery is rechargeable and, preferably, can be charged wirelessly. For example, the batteries can be charged by power induction. For example, each display panel  103  contains a power receiving coil to receive power from a transmitting wire coil  509  in the mounting board  101  for charging the battery. 
       FIG. 14   a  illustrates a mounting board  10   s   1  installed with a plurality of power transmitting coils  509 . The positions of the power transmitting coils  509  are placed at or near the attachment points  109 , but preferably integrated inside the attachment points  109 , to coincide with the position of the power receiving coil inside the display panels. This is further illustrated in  FIG. 14   b , showing the cross-sectional side view of the mounting board  101  of  FIG. 14   a .  FIG. 14   c  illustrates the corresponding mounting board  101  of  FIG. 14   a  having power transmitting coils  509  overlaid with display panels. 
       FIG. 14   d  illustrate the front view of a display panel  103  with a power receiving coil  509   a  that corresponds to a power transmitting coil  509  in the mounting board  101 .  FIG. 14   e  is the corresponding view from the back and  FIG. 14   f  is the corresponding side view. 
     Preferably, the position of the power transmitting coil  509  in the attachment point  109  is where the electric power cable  107  emerges from the hole, as shown in  FIG. 3 , as the connector electric power cable  107  can be omitted and replaced by the power transmitting coil  509 . 
     The power receiving wire coil  509   a  in each display panel  103  and the power transmitting wire coils  509  in the mounting board  101  are tuned to the same electromagnetic frequency to facilitate power transfer. The mounting board  101  is capable of detecting the presence of a power receiving coil  509   a , which indicates the presence of a display panel  103  installed on the mounting board  101 . For example, when a power receiving coil  509   a  in a display panel  103  is placed near a power transmitting wire coil  509  in the mounting board  101 , the impedance load on the power transmitting wire coil  509  drops. The drop in impedance triggers the power transmitting wire coil  509  to be powered to cause inductive power transfer to the power receiving wire coil  509   a  in the display panel  103 . Hence, each power transmitting wire coil  509  automatically turns ON and OFF depending on whether a display panel  103  is placed on the attachment point  109 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment  100 , in which the mounting board  101  comprises a mesh of lengthwise and sidewise railings  401 . The attachment points  109  are movably placed on the railings  401 . Thus, the user can potentially attach a display panel at any position along the rails. Advantageously, the total number of attachment points  109  on the mounting board  101  can be less than that of the foregoing embodiments  100 , but because the attachment devices  301  are movable, the possible arrangements of the display panels  103  on the mounting board may be the same. Advantageously, the number of electric power cables and data signal cable in this example of the mounting board  101  is correspondingly reduced.  FIG. 16  illustrates a variation of this embodiment, in which the power transmitting wire coil  509  on the mounting board  101  is movable along with the attachment points  109  on the railings  401   
       FIG. 17  shows another embodiment  100 , in which the display panels  103  are attached to the mounting board  101  by a hinge on one side of the display panel. Thus, the display panels  103  can be lifted away from the mounting board  101  on the hinged end and be propped up. Thus, the mounting board  101  is optionally laid flat on a table and the display panels  103  are secured in a lifted configuration for viewing. This arrangement is useful for displaying an assortment of digital photographs in a domestic setting, as in a mantelpiece display. A variation to this embodiment  100 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , is to place multiple mounting boards  101  alongside each other to form an extended mounting board  101 . For example, multiple mounting boards  101  may be simply placed together, or be mechanically hooked up together 
     Accordingly, the embodiments described are a display assembly  100  comprising, a mounting board  101 , an attachment device  301  on the mounting board  101 , at least one display panel  103  mounted to the attachment device  301 , the mounting board  101  capable of providing power  105  to operate the at least one display panel  103 . 
     Furthermore, the embodiments described have a mounting board  101  comprising an attachment device  301 , the attachment device  301  for attaching to a display panel  103  and power connection  105  to operate the display panel  103 . 
     Furthermore, the embodiments  100  described have a display panel  103  for mounting to an attachment device  301  of a mounting board  101 , wherein the mounting board  101  provides power  105  to operate the display panel  103 . 
     Furthermore, some embodiments  100  is a display assembly comprising a mounting board, two or more display panels mounted to the mounting board; wherein one of the display panels comprises a processor; and the other display panels relying on the processor in the one of the display panels to process image data. This allows effective use of a single processor by several display panels. Optionally, there could be two or more master display device on the mounting board instead of just one as described for  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 13   a.    
     Furthermore, some embodiments  100  described have a mounting board  101 , wherein the mounting board  101  comprises a data bus for a first display panel  903  attached to the mounting board to access a processor in a second display panel  903   a  attached to the mounting board, wherein the processor in the second display panel processing image data for the display panel. 
     Furthermore, some embodiments  100  described have a display panel  903   a  for mounting to a mounting board  101 , wherein the display panel relies on a processor in another display panel  903  mounted to the mounting board  101  to process image data. 
     Furthermore, some embodiments  100  described have a display panel  903  for mounting to a mounting board  101 , wherein the display panel has a processor for processing image data for another display panel  903  mounted to the mounting board  101 . 
     As the skilled man knows how to program the specific images of different formats and direct them to the appropriate or selected display panel  103  by conventional programming and wiring technology, such details are omitted here. 
     Variations of the invention, although not described in detail, are within the understanding of the skilled man. 
     For example, the skilled man understands that in different embodiments  100 , the display panels  103  are able to receive image data in either digital or analogue forms, or both. 
     Furthermore, the skilled man understands that depending on the images selected to be shown in each display panel, the images in the display panels  103  can combine to form a single larger image or can be entirely unrelated images. The skilled man also understands that some of the images can be static while others are moving. In this way, the embodiments  100  allow room for creative display. 
     The skilled man also understands that the mounting board  101  can be designed and made such that the display panels  103  suitable for mounting onto the mounting board  101  can be of different sizes, from different manufacturers or show different images in different formats. 
     The skilled man also understands that the display panels is removably mounted by the user onto the mounting board  101  in some embodiments  100 , and is fixedly mounted by the manufacturer based in some other embodiments  100 . 
     The skilled man also understands that although a battery is disclosed in the display panels, which is chargeable by induction, it is possible to directly operate the display panels by induction power, without needing a re-chargeable a battery. 
     Furthermore, the skilled man understands that different features of the different embodiments  100  may be combined to vary the embodiments  100 . For example, although not described above, the skilled man understands that the embodiment  100  of  FIG. 15  can be modified such that either or both the master display panel and the secondary display panels can receive image data wirelessly. The skilled man also understands that it is possible to equip all the display panels and also the mounting board  101  with a processor each. The skilled man also understands that while images have been described so far, the display in any of the display panels a can also be textual.