Power and Control System for Modular Multi-Panel Display System

Abstract

In one embodiment, a modular multi-panel display system includes a mechanical support structure, and an array of LED display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display. None of the LED display panels have a receiver card within the panel. A receiver box is mounted to the mechanical support. The receiver box is housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the LED display panels. The receiver box includes a receiver card coupled to feed data to be displayed on the integrated display to a plurality of the LED display panels. A control box is outside of the mechanical support and electrically connected to the receiver box through a data connection. A plurality of electrical connections electrically connects the receiver box with a first display panel in each row of display panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular multi-panel display system comprising:
 an array of display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to a mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display, wherein each display panel is configured to receive AC power and media to display, wherein each display panel comprises an AC-DC power converter mounted separately on a back side of the display panel, wherein the AC-DC converter configured to generate a DC power supply for the respective display panel, wherein each of the display panel further including digital circuitry configured to process media data to be displayed by the display panels; and   wherein the array of display panels is configured to receive media packets representing media data to be displayed on the integrated display through a network connection.   
     
     
         2 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital circuitry comprises:
 an interface circuit to receive the media packets;   a buffer memory to store data comprising the media packets; and   a graphics processor to process data comprising the media packets.   
     
     
         3 . The display system of  claim 2 , further comprising a scan controller configured to control each light emitting unit of the display panel. 
     
     
         4 . The display system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a control box at a remote location outside of the mechanical support and connected to the array of display panels through the network connection.   
     
     
         5 . The display system of  claim 4 , wherein the control box is a media server. 
     
     
         6 . The display system of  claim 4 , wherein the control box includes a sending card with a data input and a data output, the control box further including a power management unit coupled to the sending card. 
     
     
         7 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein each display panel comprises an input integrated data and power cable and an output integrated data and power cable. 
     
     
         8 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the display system include no cabinets and wherein the display system is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning or fans. 
     
     
         9 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the display panels having an ingress protection rating of IP 65 or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The display system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of coupling mechanisms, wherein each display panel is mechanically coupled to the mechanical support structure and three other display panels by a respective coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the array of display panels comprises a first set of display panels and a second set of display panels, wherein all of the first set of display panels are powered using a common connection, wherein all of the second set of display panels are powered using a common connection, and wherein the display panels in the first set of display panels are powered through a different connection from the display panels in the second set of display panels. 
     
     
         12 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the display panels comprises LED display panels. 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a modular multi-panel display, the method comprising:
 assembling a mechanical support structure;   attaching a plurality of display panels directly to the mechanical support structure using a plurality of coupling mechanisms, wherein the plurality of display panels is arranged so as to form an integrated display, wherein each display panel is configured to receive AC power, wherein each display panel comprises a AC-DC power converter mounted separately on a back side of the display panel, the AC-DC converter configured to generate a DC power supply from AC power for the respective display panel, wherein each of the display panel includes digital circuitry configured to process media data to be displayed by the display panels;   electrically connecting AC power to each of the display panels;   electrically connecting media data connection to each of the display panels;   receiving media packets comprising media to be displayed from a control box located at a remote location using a network connection; and   displaying the media to be display on the integrated display.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the digital circuitry comprises:
 receiving the media packets at an interface circuit;   storing data comprising the media packets at a buffer memory; and   processing data comprising the media packets at a graphics processor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transferring the media packets received at the interface circuit to the graphics processor through a receiver bus.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein processing the data comprising the media packets at the graphics processor comprises decoding the received media packets at the graphics processor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining color, brightness, and refresh time for each light emitting unit of the display panel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 activating or deactivating each light emitting unit of the display panel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein electrically connecting the AC power and electrically connecting the media data comprises interconnecting a plurality of integrated data and power cables. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving media to be display from the control box located at the remote location using the network connection comprises using a wireless connection. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein attaching the display panels to the mechanical support structure comprises attaching each display panel to the mechanical support structure and to three other display panels by a respective coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein attaching the display panels to the mechanical support structure comprises attaching sealed display panels to the mechanical support structure without any cabinets, each sealed display panel having an ingress protection rating of IP 66 or greater. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the modular multi-panel display is cooled passively and includes no air conditioning or fans. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the display panels comprises LED display panels. 
     
     
         25 . A modular multi-panel display unit comprising:
 a mechanical support structure comprising a catwalk;   an array of display panels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array of display panels is mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display; and   each display panel being configured to receive data to be displayed, wherein each display panel comprises a AC-DC power converter mounted separately on a back side of the display panel, wherein the AC-DC converter configured to receive a AC power supply and generate a DC power supply for the respective display panel, wherein the array of display panels is configured to receive media packets representing media data to be displayed on the integrated display, wherein each of the display panel includes digital circuitry configured to process media data to be displayed by the display panels, wherein a front side of the array of display panels comprises a display surface and an opposite back side faces the catwalk, and wherein the array of display panels is accessible from the catwalk at the back side.   
     
     
         26 . The display unit of  claim 25 , further comprising a ladder in the mechanical support structure, wherein the ladder provides access to the catwalk. 
     
     
         27 . The display unit of  claim 25 , wherein the digital circuitry comprises:
 an interface circuit to receive the media packets;   a buffer memory to store data comprising the media packets; and   a graphics processor to process data comprising the media packets.   
     
     
         28 . The display unit of  claim 25 , further comprising a scan controller configured to control each light emitting unit of the display panel. 
     
     
         29 . A method of assembling a modular multi-panel display, the method comprising:
 providing a first panel comprising:
 a first mechanical support structure, and 
 a first array of display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the first mechanical support structure so as to form a first integrated display; 
   providing a second panel comprising:
 a second mechanical support structure, and 
 a second array of display panels arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the second mechanical support structure so as to form a second integrated display, 
   wherein each display panel of the first and the second array of display panels is configured to receive AC power and media to display, wherein each display panel comprises an AC-DC power converter mounted on a back side of the display panel, the AC-DC converter configured to generate a DC power supply for the respective display panel, wherein each of the display panel further including digital circuitry configured to process media data to be displayed by the display panels; and   mounting the first panel and the second panel onto a platform for shipping.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 receiving the platform at a remote billboard location different from the location at which the first panel and the second panel are mounted; and   attaching the first panel and the second panel onto a billboard at the billboard location.