System and Method for a Modular Multi-Panel Display

Abstract

A LED display panel includes a casing having a recess. The casing has a first side and an opposite second side, where the first side of the casing includes a first surface that is part of a first outer surface of the modular LED display panel, and the second side of the casing includes a second surface that is part of a second outer surface of the modular LED display panel. The casing has attachment points at the second outer surface. A printed circuit board is disposed in the recess. A plurality of LEDs is attached to a first side of the printed circuit board. A processor is coupled to the plurality of LEDs, where the processor is configured to process received media and control operation of the plurality of LEDs. The modular LED display panel is sealed to be waterproof and is configured to be cooled passively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular light emitting diode (LED) display panel comprising:
 a casing comprising a recess, wherein the casing comprises a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the first side of the casing includes a first surface that is part of a first outer surface of the modular LED display panel, wherein the second side of the casing includes a second surface that is part of a second outer surface of the modular LED display panel, wherein the casing comprises attachment points at the second outer surface;   a printed circuit board disposed in the recess;   a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board;   a processor coupled to the plurality of LEDs, the processor configured to process received media and control operation of the plurality of LEDs;   a circuit configured to monitor power consumption of the modular LED display panel and send a warning message upon detecting a lack of power; and   wherein the modular LED display panel is sealed to be waterproof and is configured to be cooled passively.   
     
     
         2 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the modular LED display panel is sealed to be waterproof when immersed under water. 
     
     
         5 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the modular LED display panel is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         6 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a pixel health loop circuit configured to monitor power being consumed by each of the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         7 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the modular LED display panel comprises exactly one printed circuit board to which LEDs are attached. 
     
     
         8 . A modular multi-panel display system comprising:
 a mechanical support structure comprising a plurality of beams;   a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) display panels, wherein the plurality of LED display panels is arranged in rows and columns and mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display;   a box mounted to the mechanical support structure, the box housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the box comprises a power management unit for providing power to each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the box comprises a receiver card that is configured to receive data to be displayed and feed the data to be displayed and communication to each of the plurality of LED display panels; and   a plurality of electrical connections electrically connecting the box with each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels comprises:
 a casing comprising a recess, wherein the casing comprises a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the first side of the casing includes a first surface that is part of a first outer surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the second side of the casing includes a second surface that is part of a second outer surface of the corresponding one of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the casing comprises attachment points at the second outer surface; 
 a printed circuit board disposed in the recess; 
 a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board; 
 a processor coupled to the plurality of LEDs, the processor configured to process received media and control operation of the plurality of LEDs; 
 a circuit configured to monitor power consumption of the respective LED display panel and send a warning message upon detecting a lack of power; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is sealed to be waterproof and is configured to be cooled passively. 
   
     
     
         9 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is configured to be supported by both a first interior beam of the plurality of beams and a second interior beam of the of the plurality of beams, wherein the first interior beam is perpendicular to the second interior beam. 
     
     
         10 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is sealed to be waterproof when immersed under water. 
     
     
         11 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         12 . A modular light emitting diode (LED) display panel comprising:
 a height extending from a first edge of the modular LED display panel to an opposite second edge of the modular LED display panel;   a width extending from a third edge of the modular LED display panel to an opposite fourth edge;   a printed circuit board comprising a first side and an opposite second side and extending to within an edge distance of each of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge;   a plurality of LEDs attached to the first side of the printed circuit board in an array comprising a pitch, wherein a surface of each of the plurality of LEDs is exposed to the environment, and wherein the pitch is greater than the edge distance;   a potting compound overlying the printed circuit board;   power supply circuitry coupled to the plurality of LEDs;   a processor coupled to the plurality of LEDs, the processor being configured to process received media and control operation of the plurality of LEDs;   a housing attached to the second side of the printed circuit board, the housing comprising a major surface configured to be part of an outer surface of the modular LED display panel; and   wherein the modular LED display panel is sealed to be waterproof, and wherein the modular LED display panel is configured to be cooled passively without fans.   
     
     
         13 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the modular LED display panel is configured to be operational when submerged beneath up to three feet of water for up to thirty minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the modular LED display panel is configured to be operational when permanently submerged beneath up to thirteen feet of water. 
     
     
         17 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the modular LED display panel is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , wherein the height is substantially half of the width. 
     
     
         19 . The modular LED display panel of  claim 12 , further comprising a pixel health loop circuit configured to monitor power being consumed by each of the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         20 . A modular multi-panel display system comprising:
 a mechanical support structure comprising a plurality of beams;   a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) display panels, wherein the plurality of LED display panels is arranged in an array and mounted to the mechanical support structure so as to form an integrated display;   a box mounted to the mechanical support structure, the box housed in a housing that is separate from housings of each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the box comprises a power management unit for providing power to each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein the box comprises a receiver card that is configured to receive data to be displayed and feed the data to be displayed and communication to each of the plurality of LED display panels; and   a plurality of electrical connections electrically connecting the box with each of the plurality of LED display panels, wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels comprises:
 a height extending from a first edge of the respective LED panel to an opposite second edge of the respective LED panel; 
 a width extending from a third edge of the respective LED panel to an opposite fourth edge of the respective LED panel; 
 a printed circuit board comprising a first side and an opposite second side and extending to within an edge distance of each of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge; 
   a plurality of LEDs attached to the first side of the printed circuit board in an array comprising a pitch, wherein a surface of each of the plurality of LEDs is exposed to the environment, and wherein the pitch is greater than the edge distance;
 a potting compound overlying the printed circuit board; 
 power supply circuitry coupled to the plurality of LEDs; 
 a processor coupled to the plurality of LEDs, the processor being configured to process received media and control operation of the plurality of LEDs; 
 a housing attached to the second side of the printed circuit board, the housing comprising a major surface configured to be part of an outer surface of the respective LED display panel; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is sealed to be waterproof, and wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is configured to be cooled passively without fans. 
   
     
     
         21 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of LED display panels is configured to be supported by both a first interior beam of the plurality of beams and a second interior beam of the of the plurality of beams, wherein the first interior beam is perpendicular to the second interior beam. 
     
     
         22 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the LED display panels is configured to be operational when submerged beneath up to three feet of water for up to thirty minutes. 
     
     
         23 . The modular multi-panel display system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the LED display panels is configured to be operational when permanently submerged beneath up to thirteen feet of water.