Preassembled Display Systems and Methods of Installation Thereof

Abstract

A preassembled display system is assembled at a first location by attaching a plurality of display panels to a frame. The preassembled display system is loaded onto a transportation vehicle. Next, the preassembled display system is moved to a second location in a transportation vehicle. The display unit is installed at the second location by attaching the preassembled display system to a mounting unit. A receiver box for providing media to display at the plurality of display panels is attached. The attaching of the receiver box may be performed at the first location and/or at the second location. The plurality of display panels are electrically connected to the receiver box. Again, the electrically connecting may be performed at the first location and/or at the second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing an installation of a display unit, the method comprising:
 assembling a plurality of display sections at a first location, each display section including a plurality of display panels mechanically attached to a frame, wherein each of the plurality of display panels comprises
 a casing comprising plastic sidewalls, the casing being part of an outer surface of the display unit that is exposed to an external environment, 
 a printed circuit board attached to the casing, the printed circuit board comprising a first side and an opposite second side, 
 a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to the first side the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels of each of the display panels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels, and 
 a circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs attached to the opposite second side of the printed circuit board, wherein the circuit is disposed within the casing; 
   transporting the display sections from the first location to a second location that is at least five miles away from the first location; and   mounting the plurality of display sections at the second location to install the display unit, the display unit being installed by attaching the frame of each display section to the frame of at least one other display section.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of display sections are lifted up to a mounting point, wherein the mounting point is a mounting point of a preexisting billboard. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each display section includes a cat walk, each cat walk being assembled with a respective display section at the first location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of display sections is mounted in an array of rows and columns, wherein each cat walk of the display sections in a first one of the columns includes a ladder such that cat walks of the display sections of the first one of the columns have a common ladder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, after mounting the plurality of display sections, the catwalks of adjacent display sections are connected together to form a continuous walkway. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of display sections are mounted in an array of rows and columns, each display section with at least one of the columns having a common ladder extending between display sections of that column. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of display sections are assembled into a plurality of super sections on a sidewalk, and wherein the assembled plurality of super sections is lifted to mounting points and mounted to form a single display. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of display sections are lifted and then assembled at mounting points. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of display panels is sealed to be waterproof, and wherein the frame of each display section comprises a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
         10 . A method of performing an installation of a display unit, the method comprising:
 assembling a plurality of display sections at a first location, wherein each of the plurality of display sections comprises
 a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the first side of the display section comprises a display surface of the display section, 
 a frame comprising a top horizontal member, a bottom horizontal member, a left vertical member, and a right vertical member, 
 a plurality of display panels mechanically attached to the frame, wherein each of the plurality of display panels comprises
 a casing comprising an outer surface of the display section, the outer surface being part of the opposite second side of the display section, 
 a printed circuit board attached to the casing, 
 a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels of each of the display panels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels, and 
 
 a data receiver box mounted directly to the frame, the data receiver box comprising
 a power management unit comprising an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, the power management unit configured to receive AC power and output DC power to the plurality of display panels, and 
 a signal processing unit configured to receive media packets and distribute the media packets to the plurality of display panels, wherein the casing of each of the plurality of display panels is directly coupled to the frame; 
 
   transporting the display sections from the first location to a second location that is at least five miles away from the first location; and   mounting the plurality of display sections at the second location to install the display unit, the display unit being installed by attaching the frame of each display section to the frame of at least one other display section.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of display sections are lifted up to a mounting point, wherein the mounting point is a mounting point of a preexisting billboard. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of display sections are mounted in an array of rows and columns, each display section with at least one of the columns having a common ladder extending between display sections of that column. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of display sections are assembled into a plurality of super sections on a sidewalk, and wherein the assembled plurality of super sections is lifted to mounting points and mounted to form a single display. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of display sections are lifted and then assembled at mounting points. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of display panels is sealed to be waterproof, and wherein the frame of each display section comprises a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
         16 . A method of performing an installation of a display unit, the method comprising:
 forming a preassembled display system at a first location by attaching a plurality of display panels to a frame, the preassembled display system being at least 6 ft.×12 ft., wherein each of the plurality of display panels comprises
 a casing comprising plastic sidewalls, the casing being part of an outer surface of the display unit that is exposed to an external environment, 
 a printed circuit board attached to the casing, the printed circuit board comprising a first side and an opposite second side, 
 a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to the first side of the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels of each of the display panels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels, and 
 a circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs attached to the opposite second side of the printed circuit board, wherein the circuit is disposed within the casing; 
   having the preassembled display system loaded onto a transportation vehicle;   having the transportation vehicle with the preassembled display system moved toward a second location;   at the second location, removing a preexisting display mounted on a mounting frame; and   lifting up the preassembled display system as a single unit to the mounting frame and having the preassembled display system attached to the mounting frame, wherein, after the installation of the display unit, surfaces of the casing of each of the plurality of display panels at both a first side of the casing and an opposite second side of the casing are exposed to an external environment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preassembled display system comprises a catwalk and a ladder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preexisting display comprises a poster board mounted onto the mounting frame, and a canvas mounted over the poster board, and wherein removing the preassembled display system comprises removing the canvas and the poster board. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein,
 the casing of each of the plurality of display panels comprises a thermally conductive material,   the plurality of LEDs of each of the plurality of display panels are attached to a first side of the printed circuit board, and   each of the plurality of display panels comprises a power supply for powering the plurality of LEDs, wherein the power supply is disposed at a second side of the printed circuit board, the second side being opposite the first side.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the preassembled display system is further configured to be attached to the mounting frame of a billboard by attaching a plurality of the preassembled display systems to the mounting frame of the billboard,   a first one of the plurality of the preassembled display systems is stacked over a second one of the plurality of the preassembled display systems using joining features coupled to the frames of the first one and the second one of the plurality of the preassembled display systems, and   the joining features are configured to facilitate alignment of the first one and the second one of the plurality of the preassembled display systems.