Modular Display Panel

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are related to modular display panels. In one embodiment, a modular display panel includes a first side which includes a display surface, and an opposite second side formed from an outer surface of a housing made of plastic. The modular display panel further includes a printed circuit board and LEDs arranged as pixels is attached to the printed circuit board and a sealing compound is disposed over the printed circuit board. The modular display panel further includes a power source for powering the plurality of LEDs and one or more electrical connectors. The sealing compound, the housing, and the one or more electrical connectors form a waterproof enclosure so that the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof. The modular display panel is configured to be exposed to an external environment without a protective waterproof enclosure and to be cooled passively without fans.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular display panel comprising:
 a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the first side of the modular display panel comprises a display surface of the modular display panel, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be attached with other modular display panels to form a multi-panel modular display;   a housing made of plastic and comprising an outer surface of the modular display panel, the outer surface of the housing forming the second side of the modular display panel;   a printed circuit board comprising a front side and an opposite back side, the opposite back side being attached to the plastic housing;   a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to a front side of the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels;   a sealing compound disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board;   a framework of louvers disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board between rows of the plurality of LEDs;   a circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs, the circuit being attached to the printed circuit board;   a power source for powering the plurality of LEDs;   one or more electrical connectors coupled to the circuit;   wherein the sealing compound, the plastic housing, and the one or more electrical connectors form a waterproof enclosure so that the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof;   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be exposed to an external environment without a protective waterproof enclosure; and   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be cooled passively without fans.   
     
     
         2 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing compound disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board, wherein the front side of the printed circuit board is sealed to be waterproof by the sealing compound. 
     
     
         3 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the modular display panel is configured to be operational when submerged in water up to a depth of one meter. 
     
     
         4 . The modular display panel of  claim 3 , wherein the modular display panel is further configured to be operational when submerged in water to a depth greater than one meter. 
     
     
         5 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is mounted over the outer surface of the plastic housing. 
     
     
         6 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is disposed within the plastic housing. 
     
     
         7 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, and wherein the power source is configured to receive AC power and output DC power to the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a down converter that down converts a direct current (DC) voltage at a first level to a DC voltage at a second level, the second level being lower than the first level. 
     
     
         9 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical connectors are integrated data and power connectors, each comprising:
 data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each of the data connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of data connectors of another integrated data and power connector, wherein the data connectors are configured to carry data to the circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs;   power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of power connectors of the another integrated data and power connector, wherein the power connectors are configured to carry power to the plurality of LEDs; and   a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the integrated data and power connector.   
     
     
         10 . The modular display panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver card configured to receive external data and provide the external data to the circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs, the receiver card comprising a unique network address. 
     
     
         11 . A modular display panel comprising:
 a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the first side of the modular display panel comprises a display surface of the modular display panel, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be attached with other modular display panels to form a multi-panel modular display;   a housing made of plastic and comprising an outer surface of the modular display panel, the outer surface being part of the second side of the modular display panel;   a recess disposed in the plastic housing;   a printed circuit board disposed in the recess, the printed circuit board comprising a front side and an opposite back side, wherein the recess surrounds the opposite back side of the printed circuit board;   a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to the front side of the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels;   a sealing compound disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board;   a circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs;   one or more electrical connectors coupled to the circuit;   a power source for powering the plurality of LEDs;   wherein the sealing compound, the plastic housing, and the one or more electrical connectors form a waterproof enclosure so that the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof;   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be exposed to an external environment without a protective waterproof enclosure; and   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be cooled passively without fans.   
     
     
         12 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a network of support structures extending into the recess from the housing towards the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the housing by the network of support structures.   
     
     
         13 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein the modular display panel is configured to be operational when submerged in water up to a depth of one meter. 
     
     
         14 . The modular display panel of  claim 13 , wherein the modular display panel is further configured to be operational when submerged in water to a depth greater than one meter. 
     
     
         15 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein the power source is mounted over the outer surface of the plastic housing. 
     
     
         16 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein the power source comprises an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, and wherein the power source is configured to receive AC power and output DC power to the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         17 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein the power source comprises a down converter that down converts a direct current (DC) voltage at a first level to a DC voltage at a second level, the second level being lower than the first level. 
     
     
         18 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein a surface of each of the plurality of LEDs is exposed to the external environment. 
     
     
         19 . The modular display panel of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more electrical connectors are integrated data and power connectors, each comprising:
 data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each of the data connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of data connectors of another integrated data and power connector, wherein the data connectors are configured to carry data to the circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs;   power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of power connectors of the another integrated data and power connector, wherein the power connectors are configured to carry power to the plurality of LEDs; and   a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the integrated data and power connector.   
     
     
         20 . A modular display panel comprising:
 a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the first side of the modular display panel comprises a display surface of the modular display panel, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be attached with other modular display panels to form a multi-panel modular display;   a housing made of plastic and comprising an outer surface of the modular display panel, the outer surface of the housing being part of the second side of the modular display panel;   a printed circuit board attached to the plastic housing, the printed circuit board comprising a front side and an opposite back side, wherein the housing is attached to the opposite back side of the printed circuit board;   a plurality of LEDs arranged as pixels attached to the front side of the printed circuit board, wherein the pixels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels;   a sealing compound disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board;   a framework of louvers disposed over the front side of the printed circuit board between rows of the plurality of LEDs,   a circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs, the circuit being attached to the opposite back side of the printed circuit board;   a power connector disposed in the outer surface of the housing and configured to be coupled to a power source,   wherein the front side of the printed circuit board is sealed to be waterproof by the sealing compound and the housing with the power connector is sealed to be waterproof so that the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof;   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be exposed to an external environment without a protective waterproof enclosure; and   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be cooled passively without fans.   
     
     
         21 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , wherein the power source is mounted over the outer surface of the plastic housing. 
     
     
         22 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , wherein the power source is disposed within the plastic housing. 
     
     
         23 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a network of support structures extending from the housing towards the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the housing by the network of support structures.   
     
     
         24 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , wherein the modular display panel is configured to be operational when submerged in water up to a depth of one meter. 
     
     
         25 . The modular display panel of  claim 24 , wherein the modular display panel is further configured to be operational when submerged in water to a depth greater than one meter. 
     
     
         26 . The modular display panel of  claim 24 , wherein the power source comprises an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, and wherein the power source is configured to receive AC power and output DC power to the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         27 . The modular display panel of  claim 24 , wherein the power source comprises a down converter that down converts a direct current (DC) voltage at a first level to a DC voltage at a second level, the second level being lower than the first level. 
     
     
         28 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , wherein a surface of each of the plurality of LEDs is exposed to the external environment. 
     
     
         29 . The modular display panel of  claim 20 , wherein the power connector is part of an integrated data and power connector comprising:
 data connectors surrounded by an end enclosure, each of the data connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of data connectors of another integrated data and power connector, wherein the data connectors are configured to carry data to the circuit for controlling the plurality of LEDs;   power connectors surrounded by the end enclosure, each of the power connectors configured to fit into an opposite type of power connectors of the another integrated data and power connector, wherein the power connectors are configured to carry power to the plurality of LEDs; and   a sealing cover configured to prevent moisture from reaching inside the integrated data and power connector.   
     
     
         30 . A modular display panel comprising:
 a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the first side of the modular display panel comprises a display surface of the modular display panel, wherein the modular display panel is configured to be attached with other modular display panels to form a multi-panel modular display;   a plurality of means for emitting light;   means for housing the plurality of means for emitting light, the means for housing being made of plastic and comprising an outer surface of the modular display panel, the outer surface of the means for housing forming the second side of the modular display panel;   means for holding the plurality of means for emitting light, the means for holding comprising a front side and an opposite back side, the opposite back side being attached to the means for housing, the plurality of means for emitting light arranged as pixels attached to a front side of the means for holding, wherein the pixels are arranged in a rectangular array comprising at least fifty pixels;   means for sealing disposed over the front side of the means for holding;   means for controlling the plurality of means for emitting light, the means for controlling being attached to the means for holding;   means for connecting electrically coupled to the means for controlling;   means for powering the plurality of means for emitting light;   wherein the means for sealing, the means for housing the plurality of means for emitting light, and the means for connecting form a waterproof enclosure so that the modular display panel is sealed to be waterproof;   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be exposed to an external environment without a protective waterproof enclosure; and   wherein the modular display panel is configured to be cooled passively without fans.