Modular display system and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10043422-B2
Application number	US-201615142870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of display modules, assemblies of display modules, and systems of display modules. Display modules have a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a predetermined pattern and providing a highly uniform visual effect. Alignment and complementary alignment features enable the alignment of adjacent display modules and the creation of large displays from a plurality of aligned display modules. Features to grip and retain a support frame are provided. Modules and systems have features that permit installation and removal from the front side of the display. A system of modular support frames works cooperatively with the display modules, adapting to different mounting environments, and thereby providing large modular displays with desirable properties.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of providing a modular display system for creating a visual display upon a viewing plane, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a support frame having one or more apertures;
b) providing a first display module by the steps of:
i) coupling a plurality of light emitting elements to a substrate;
ii) disposing said plurality of light emitting elements in a predetermined pattern collectively creating a visual display upon a display plane;
iii) coupling a frame grip to said substrate, the frame grip being disposed opposite to said display plane, said frame grip operative to engage a portion of said support frame about one of said one or more apertures, said frame grip operative to allow said display module to move between a service position and an installed position; said service position characterized in that said display plane is tilted with respect to said viewing plane; said installed position characterized in that said display plane is substantially co-planar with said viewing plane;
iv) coupling a releasable frame retention means to said substrate, said releasable frame retention means having a retaining position and a non-retaining position, said retaining position effective for engaging a portion of said support frame and urging said display plane to be substantially co-planar with said viewing plane, said non-retaining position allowing said display plane to tilt with respect to said viewing plane, said releasable frame retention means disposed to be actuated between said retaining position and said non-retaining position from the display plane side of said display module;

c) engaging, with said frame grip of said first display module, a portion of said support frame about one of said one or more apertures, disposing said first display module in said service position;
d) moving said first display module from said service position to said installed position, thereby disposing said display plane to be substantially co-planar with said viewing plane;
e) actuating said releasable frame retention means into said retaining position;
f) additionally providing the first display module with:
i) a first alignment feature rigidly coupled to said substrate and disposed in a predetermined relationship to said display plane;
ii) a first complementary alignment feature rigidly coupled to said substrate and disposed in a predetermined relationship to said first alignment feature;

g) providing a second display module substantially identical to said first display module;
h) engaging with the frame grip of said second display module a portion of said support frame about one of said one or more apertures, disposing said second display module in said service position adjacent to said first display module already in said installed position;
i) operatively engaging said first alignment feature of said first display module with the first complementary alignment feature of said second display module by moving said second display module from the service position to the installed position and thereby causing the display planes of the first and second display modules to be substantially co-planar;
j) actuating said releasable frame retention means of the second display module from said service position into said retaining position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) substantially aligning said predetermined pattern of said first display module with the predetermined pattern of said second display module such that no perceivable visual aberration is created between said predetermined pattern of said first display module and the predetermined pattern of said second display module.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the predetermined pattern of said first display module and the predetermined pattern of said second display module are both further characterized in that each of said plurality of light emitting elements is disposed about a first pitch distance away from at least two closest adjacent light emitting elements, said pitch distance being substantially uniform across said predetermined patterns, the method further comprising the steps of:
a) disposing said first display module with respect to said second display module so that a portion of the light emitting elements of the first display module are spaced about said first pitch distance away from a portion of the light emitting elements of the second display module.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) disposing said second display module in said installed position with the releasable frame retention means in the retaining position, said first display module already being in the installed position;
b) engaging, with the frame grip of said third display module, a portion of said support frame about one of said one or more apertures, disposing said third display module in said service position adjacent to both said first display module and said second display module;
c) moving said third display module from the service position to the installed position thereby operatively engaging:
i) said first alignment feature of said first display module with the first complementary alignment feature of said third display module, causing the display planes of the first and third display modules to be substantially co-planar;
ii) said first alignment feature of said third display module with the complementary alignment feature of said second display module, causing the display planes of the second and third display modules to be substantially co-planar;

d) actuating said releasable frame retention means of the third display module from said service position into said retaining position.

5. The method of claim 4 additionally comprising the steps of:
a) substantially aligning said predetermined pattern of said first display module with the predetermined pattern of said second display module such that no perceivable visual aberration is created between said predetermined pattern of said first display module and the predetermined pattern of said second display module;
b) substantially aligning said predetermined pattern of said second display module with the predetermined pattern of said third display module such that no perceivable visual aberration is created between said predetermined pattern of said second display module and the predetermined pattern of said third display module.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the predetermined patterns of said first display module, said second display module, and said third display module are further characterized in that each of said plurality of light emitting elements is disposed about a first pitch distance away from at least two closest adjacent light emitting elements, said pitch distance being substantially uniform across said predetermined patterns, the method further comprising the steps of:
a) disposing said first display module with respect to said second display module so that a portion of the light emitting elements of the first display module are spaced about said first pitch distance away from a portion of the light emitting elements of the second display module;
b) disposing said second display module with respect to said third display module so that a portion of the light emitting elements of the second display module are spaced about said first pitch distance away from a portion of the light emitting elements of the third display module.

Assignees

• Nanolumens Acquisition Inc

Inventors

• Cross Robert James
• Cope Rick Craig
• Perez-Bravo Jorge
• Feather Gary
• Meincke Drew

Classifications

• G09F9/3026 Primary

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