System and Technique for Tensioned Wall of Individual LED Tiles

Abstract

Support wires can be used to hold up light tiles to provide a lightweight display system or technique.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing support wires; and   coupling at least two light tiles separately to the support wires, wherein the at least two light tiles are supported by the support wires, the light tiles include a light source and a light guide, and the support wires extend in a direction parallel to a light-emitting surface of the light tiles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light tiles further include a heat sink coupled to side edges of the light tiles that are perpendicular to the light-emitting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light tiles include a translucent shell, within which the light source and light guide are encased. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first light tile comprises a first attachment unit for connecting to a first support wire,
 a second light tile comprises a second attachment unit for connecting to the first support wire, and 
 a first length from a first end of the first support wire to the first attachment unit is different from a second length from the first end of the first support wire to the second attachment unit. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light tiles attach to two of the support wires, each of the support wires being directly connected to at least three tiles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the support wires are parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises an LED. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each light source is fully sealed within its light tile, thereby preventing any water from permeating to the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein light tiles are connected to one another for power and data distribution. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing a light tile comprising a light source and a light guide operably connected to the light source and encased within the light tile; and   forming an attachment unit on the light tile, wherein the attachment unit is adapted for attaching the light tile to a support wire.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the light tile has two attachment units, on opposite side edges of the light tile, for attaching to support wires. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the light source comprises an LED. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the light source is fully sealed within by the light tile, thereby preventing any water from permeating to the light source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the light source provides light of different colors, which can be altered based on a video signal from a computer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the video signal can be coupled to light tile via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing an elongated support member, extending from a first attachment point to a second attachment point; and   coupling at least two light tiles separately to the elongated support member between the first and second attachment points, wherein the at least two light tiles are supported by the support member, and the light tiles include a light source.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the elongated support member is a support wire. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the light source comprises an LED.