CN1914651A - Display system for use on horizontal or non-horizontal surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to display system comprising an electronic display device housed within a supporting fixture, where the supporting fixture may be capable of being arranged on a substantially horizontal surface such as a floor and walked over, or of being mounted on a non-horizontal surface, inlcuding a substantially vertical surface such as a wall. To this end, the electronic display device and supporting fixture may be thin and lightweight, while also being durable and shock resistant. Control electronics for the display device may be arranged in such a way that space is conserved.

Description

Display systems for use on level or non-level surfaces

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 60/526,271, filed December 3, 2003, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). Also, this application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/454,631, filed June 5, 2003, which claims U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/385,579, filed June 5, 2002, at 35 U.S.C.§ Rights under 119(e). Application No. 10/454631 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application No. 10/438923, filed May 16, 2003, which requires U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378070, filed May 16, 2002, at 35U. Interests under S.C. §119(e). Application Serial No. 10/438923 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Application Serial No. 10/285639, filed November 1, 2002, filed May 3, 2002 and granted January 14, 2003 as Continuation of Application No. 10/137357 of US Patent No. 6,507,285. Application Serial No. 10/137357 is a continuation of Application Serial No. 09/767846, filed January 24, 2001 and issued July 9, 2002 as US Patent No. 6,417,778. Application No. 09/767846 is a continuation of patent application No. 09/418752 filed on October 15, 1999 and now abandoned. Application Serial No. 09/418752 is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 09/304051, filed May 4, 1999 and issued April 24, 2001 as US Patent No. 6,219,876. Moreover, this application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/759,167, filed Jan. 20, 2004, which claims U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/441,408, filed Jan. 22, 2003, at 35 U.S.C.§ Rights under 119(e). Application No. 10/759,167 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application No. 10/682,435, filed October 10, 2003, the claims of which are identified as U.S. provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) Benefits: Application Nos. 60/418626, filed October 12, 2002; 60/428387, filed November 19, 2002; and 60/429044, filed November 22, 2002. Application No. 10/682435 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application No. 10/438923, filed May 16, 2003. Each of the aforementioned applications and patents is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background technique

U.S. Patent No. 6,417,778 to Blum et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes an electronic display device associated with a floor that enables the transmission of information through moving images and text . The present disclosure is directed to various novel and advantageous features of such electronic display devices.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 shows a plan view of components of a multi-panel display system and associated control electronics according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of components of a partially assembled multi-panel display system and associated control electronics in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a more fully assembled multi-panel display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of another example of a more fully assembled multi-panel display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a side view with some see-through parts of a display system according to an embodiment of the invention; and

6A and 6B show an example of a mounting device for a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display system comprising an electronic display device housed within a support fixture, wherein the support fixture can be placed on a substantially horizontal surface such as a floor and walk on, or can be mounted on non-horizontal surfaces including substantially vertical surfaces such as walls. To this end, the electronic display device and support fixture can be thin and lightweight, while also being durable and shock-resistant. The control electronics for the display device can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

More specifically, a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an electronic display device and a supporting and fixing device for accommodating the electronic display device. The support fixture may include a protective cover for covering the electronic display device, a support frame for supporting the protective cover, a housing including a plurality of surfaces bordering the protective cover, and a base. The base, protective cover and housing can substantially enclose the electronic display device therein. The support fixture can be adapted to be arranged on and walk on a substantially horizontal surface while protecting the electronic display device from damage, and also includes a Mount the device on a surface such as a wall.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to a low-profile display system for floor mounting, the display system comprising an electronic display device covered by a transparent or partially transparent protective cover and bounded by a bevel tapering to form a thin edge, capable of While walking on the display system, the ramp and thin sides are used to reduce the possibility of a person tripping over the display system.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a thin display system for floor mounting, the display system comprising an electronic display device substantially enclosed within a transparent or partially transparent protective cover and thin housing and base, the electronic display device substantially Centrally disposed relative to the housing, control electronics for the electronic display device are arranged near the periphery of the electronic display device and housed within the housing and base.

As noted above, electronic display devices associated with floors have previously been disclosed. More specifically, U.S. 6,417,778 discloses a system for electronically transmitting information through an electronic display device associated with a floor. The electronic display device may incorporate a given modifiable electronic display surface, such as a liquid crystal display. The display can be connected to a computer, and computer-generated images can be displayed on the display. Thus, the image displayed on the display can be modified by generating a different computer image and displaying the computer image on the display. The display may be associated with a base portion of the floor covering eg contained within a recess thereof, or may be contained on an upwardly facing bottom surface of the floor covering insert portion. Alternatively, the display may be integral with either the base portion or the insert portion. The modifiable display can use a number of different graphics that can be displayed on the display in any of a variety of ways. For example, the graphic may be displayed at a generally fixed position on the display or scrolled across the display by employing two exemplary methods of displaying multiple graphics individually or in combination.

Other alternatives for modifying the graphics displayed on the floor covering include using light emitting polymers to form and thereby change the graphics. The light emitting polymer can be applied, adhered or woven into the floor covering. The light emitting polymer may be used on any part of the floor covering, for example on the base part or the insert part, or on any other part in different embodiments of the floor covering. Light emitting polymers are disclosed and described in US Pat. Nos. 5,945,502, 5,869,350 and 5,571,626, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Other options for displays are to use electronic ink or electric paper. Electronic paper is available from Xerox and is described in US Patents 5,723,204, 5,604,027, 4,126,854, and 4,143,103, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Electronic paper uses thousands of electrically charged balls called Gyricons, each roughly the width of a human hair, to form pixels. The two-tone pellets are embedded within the liquid-filled plastic sheet that forms the surface of the e-paper. Each sphere, half black and half white, rotates in response to an electric field. Whether the ball is black side up or white side up determines the image. Because there is no need to refresh the image, and the screen is not backlit, e-paper uses only a fraction of the power used by conventional electronic displays. Electromagnetic styluses and printer-like devices can be used to obtain images on the paper.

Electronic ink is available from E Ink Corp., at 45 Spinelli Pl., Cambridge, MA 02138. Electronic ink uses a micromechanical display system encased in microcapsules. Tiny microcapsules are trapped between two plastic sheets to form pixels. Alternatively, the capsule can be sprayed onto the surface. The result is a flexible display material. The tiny capsules are transparent and contain a mixture of black ink and white paint chips. Charges pass through the capsule. Depending on the electrostatic charge, the white paint flakes either floated on top of each capsule or settled on the bottom of each capsule. The surface appears white when flakes of white paint float on top. The surface appears black when flakes of white paint rest on the bottom and thus under the ink. Each of these two states is stable: black or white. A transparent electromagnetic grid covering the surface of the sheet controls the shape of the image. The display can be connected wirelessly to, for example, a computer, and thereby to the World Wide Web by using, for example, the Motorola paging system. If multiple monitors are used, a single editor can be used to change the text on all monitors at once through a web page.

A floor display system as described above may be used in places with pedestrian traffic or other traffic (such as shopping carts on wheels), such as entrances to shops, public buildings or homes. In such an environment, foot traffic or other traffic can exert strong forces on the floor display system. Techniques have been disclosed for properly protecting electronic display devices from damage due to such forces and other factors. This technique involves covering the electronic display device with a relatively hard durable protective material such as tempered glass or plastic. More complex protection structures are also disclosed. For example, US Patent Application 10/454631, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a modular protective structure for an electronic display device associated with a floor.

As described in 10/454631, an electronic display device may include a plurality of display modules. Coherent displays may be provided in the plurality of display modules. That is to say, although a single display module can only provide a display segment, the combination of the multiple display modules can provide a complete or unified display. On the other hand, each module can be configured to display unrelated images and/or text.

More specifically, the display module may be an electronic display device incorporating any display technology including those described herein and others not specifically disclosed. The display module may be configured to electronically display graphic images and character data in a static (not moving or changing) or dynamic (eg scrolling or other moving or changing) manner. More specifically, the display module can be coupled to the controller by wired or wireless means, and can be modified by the controller to display any content selected by the user. For example, a display module may be coupled to the controller through a display driver circuit such as a video graphics adapter card. The controller may comprise any type of electronic logic circuitry, such as a general purpose microprocessor or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) configured by software. The driver of the display module can be integrated with the controller or fabricated in an ASIC. The controller may also be in the form of a single board computer with a processor and memory and one or more display driver circuits fabricated on the board, as well as wireless components for communicating with the outside world or for loading data into the memory. The controller can be coupled to a storage medium, which can be any form of medium suitable for short-term or long-term storage of digital data, including RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), flash memory, or other non-volatile solid state Electronic memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or magnetic and/or optical disk memory. The storage medium may store, for example, control software for execution by the controller, and selected video content displayed by the display module under control of the control software.

As described in 10/454631, a display module of a device may be arranged within a separate protective enclosure comprising a bottom element, a top element and vertical supports or side walls. In an embodiment, components of the protective package may be common to the display modules, for example the protective package may have a common top component, a bottom component and one or more common sidewalls. In other embodiments, each display module may have its own protective enclosure with different bottom elements, top elements and sidewalls. According to an alternative embodiment, each display module may be provided with its own protective enclosure with different top and bottom elements and vertical supports. A volume may be provided between the top element and the display module. The vertical support and bottom elements of the protective enclosure may be made of materials including, for example, plastic, metal, glass or wood.

Advantages of the modular construction as described in 10/454631 include that the construction provides the display module with good protection from stress and impacts applied to the device, at least in part because the stresses and impacts are distributed by the vertical supports on the device shared by the system. Thus, the pressure and impact are not concentrated at any particular point, but are distributed and diffused among the various elements forming the protective package. This effect is further enhanced by increasing the degree of segmentation, ie increasing the number of display modules and associated protective packages in the same overall area. Increasing the degree of division of the display device enables the display device to be constructed thinner. In general, thinner display devices are desirable as this creates fewer obstacles to traffic and can be lighter. Increasing the segmentation may allow the vertical supports protecting the package to be made shorter and the top element to be made thinner.

Vertical supports may be used in embodiments as described in 10/454631, where the vertical supports do not extend continuously across the display area like beams. Instead, columns can be used as vertical supports, as opposed to continuous beams. This structure can save more material. In other embodiments, the display module may have holes formed therein for receiving vertical supports. The vertical support may be any kind of protrusion configured to be received in a corresponding hole in the display module. When received within an aperture of a display module, the vertical support may protrude beyond the upper surface of the display module to support a top protective element of the protective enclosure and provide a volumetric space between the top element and the module, as described above. Using a protective structure of the aforementioned features may allow one or more substantially thinner top elements for one or more protective packages of the display device because the structure provides dispersion in the device with respect to the top element vertical supports, as described above. Also, this configuration can use a single or unitary display device as opposed to a modular display device.

U.S. 10/682,435, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses lightweight control electronics for driving a display of display element layers in a thin flexible display system. The control electronics may be housed in a thin, light flexible frame transversely to the display element layer.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of at least a portion of a display system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The display system 100 may include one or more flat display panels 101 . The system 100 may also include control electronics 102 coupled to the display panel 101 via a connector 103 . Connector 103 is intended to represent one or more connections, which may be wired and wireless. Connector 103 may be used to send control signals and drive image data from control electronics 102 to panel 101 , which may include an image driver. The control electronics 102 may be formed as a single board computer, for example.

Furthermore, the display panel 101 may include any of the features and characteristics of the display modules described in 10/454631 or other devices incorporated herein by reference. Similarly, control electronics 102 may include any of the features and characteristics of the controllers described in 10/454631 or other devices incorporated herein by reference.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the control electronic device 102 may be arranged horizontally relative to the display panel 101 (ie, one or more sides of the display panel). The display panel 101 and control electronics 102 may be arranged to lie in substantially the same plane and may be thin and flat. In contrast, the control electronics of conventional display systems are typically placed behind the display panel, whereby the display and control electronics combination tends to be somewhat bulky.

As noted above, the arrangement shown in Figure 1 need not include multiple panels 101, but may include only a single or single display panel coupled to the control electronics. However, "tiling" a plurality of panels 101 as shown in Figure 1 advantageously enables the thin support structure to be formed as part of a durable lightweight support fixture as previously described. More specifically, the supporting fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention may include thin supporting elements 104a, 104b disposed between the display panel 101 and a peripheral portion 104c near the periphery of the display panel 101 . As shown, elements 104a and 104b are transverse or perpendicular relative to each other, and perimeter portion 104c defines a rectangular outline, although other geometries are possible. For example, the support elements 104a, 104b, or portions thereof, may be parallel, may be at an angle other than 90° relative to each other, or may be curved or include curved portions. Also, the peripheral portion 104c may be formed in a shape other than a rectangle, such as a curved shape or an angle. The support elements 104a, 104b and perimeter portion 104c may combine to provide a support frame for one or more transparent or translucent protective covers. The one or more covers may be made of a durable material such as tempered glass or plastic. As better shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , perimeter portion 104c may be formed as part of an outer protective shell.

Similar to other embodiments of floor-related electronic display devices described herein, one or more display panels 101 including support frames 104a, 104b, 104c and associated support fixtures may be used for foot traffic or other traffic (e.g. shopping cart on wheels), such as the entrance of a store, public building or home. Accordingly, the support fixture can be strong and durable enough that it can be repeatedly stepped on, walked over, or let a wheeled shopping cart or other rolling or sliding or multiple display panels with negligible adverse effects. To this end, the electronic display device and related supporting and fixing devices according to the embodiments of the present invention may include any structure as described in 10/454631.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a partially assembled display system comprising an electronic display device comprising four display panels 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The display panel can be located or rested or fixed on the base 201 . The control electronic device 102 may be arranged laterally relative to the display panel 101 , and may also be located or rested or fixed on the base 201 . Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a more fully assembled display system 100 comprising four display panels 101 housed within a support fixture comprising support frames 104a, 104b in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. , 104c and a transparent or translucent protective cover 301 supported by support frames 104a, 104b, 104c. In an embodiment, each display panel or group of display panels may have a separate protective cover.

Outer protective shell 310 includes surface 302 . The perimeter portion 104c may be formed as an inner edge of the outer protective shell 310 . The surface 302 defining the display panel 101 may be a slope inclined downward. For example, surface 302 may start at a level approximately equal to the level of the top surface of the support fixture, which may be the top or outer surface of protective cover 301, and slope down to the outer edge such that the entire perimeter of display system 100 is relatively close to the display system. 100's of people are rendered as ramps. Such a configuration may make it easier for the display system to be passed laterally by a person walking past the floor display system or by a wheeled shopping cart, for example when the display system is placed in the aisle of a commercial building. However, other configurations are also possible for the abutment surface 302 . For example, they need not start at the top level of the support fixture, but can start at a different level. For example, abutment surface 302 may include a plurality of different slopes. Housing 310 including interface surface 302 may cover control electronics 102 and be secured to base 201 . According to the above, the supporting and fixing device for thin electronic display device according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the protective cover 301 , the housing 310 including the interface surface 302 , the supporting frames 104a, 104b, 104c, and the base 201 .

The display system 100 may also include an external power supply module 303 connected to the control electronics 102 by a power cable 304 . In an embodiment, additional data lines may be included in the power cable 304 and accessible through the power supply module 303 .

Fig. 4 shows another alternative embodiment according to the present invention. The display system 100 shown in FIG. 4 comprises an electronic display device having two display panels 101, and a support fixture comprising a protective cover 301, and a base 201 (not visible due to being covered), wherein the support fixture is protected by Support frame 104a or 104b (depending on perspective) and support for 104c.

FIG. 5 shows possible dimensions of the display system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a side view including some perspective. The outer edge 501 of the abutment surface 302 of the protective cover 301 is in the foreground part of FIG. 5 . Multiple dollar coins are placed near edge 501 to show scale. These coins include a quarter 502 , two nickels 503 , and a dime 504 .

In an embodiment, the thickest portion of display system 100 (ie, the shortest distance from the top surface of protective cover 301 to the bottom surface of base 201 ) is 0.3 inches to 1 inch thick, preferably between 0.5 inches and 0.7 inches thick. The thickness of the outer edge 501 is less than 0.1 inches, preferably between 0.02 inches and 0.08 inches. As noted above, the abutment surface 302 may slope downwardly to the outer edge 501 from a level approximately equal to the level of the top of the boot 301 . In an embodiment, the ramp may be present at a distance between 6 inches and 12 inches, preferably between 8 inches and 10 inches.

As previously mentioned, in addition to being able to be walked on when placed on the floor, embodiments of the present invention can also be mounted on non-horizontal surfaces such as walls. 6A and 6b respectively show the situation of a two-panel system (see FIG. 4) and a four-panel system (see FIG. 3), the bottom surface of the base 201 of the display system 100, that is, when the display system 100 is arranged such that the display panel surface The surface that contacts the floor when facing upwards for viewing. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, embodiments of the present invention may also include one or more devices that are attached or mounted to non-horizontal surfaces. The one or more means for attaching or mounting the display system 100 to a non-horizontal surface may be included in a support fixture of the electronic display device and adapted, for example, to engage a protrusion of the non-horizontal surface. For example, the mounting ring 601 may be coupled to or integrally formed with the base 201 on its outer edge 201.1. Alternatively, for example, a hole or notch 602 may be formed in the base 201 . Mounting loop 601 or hole/notch 602 may engage with, for example, a hook or other protrusion on the wall so that the support fixture and electronic display device may be hung, with the electronic display device facing outward for viewing. However, the invention is not limited to mounting rings and/or holes/notches. Any device for attaching, mounting, suspending, etc. a support fixture and electronic display device onto a non-horizontal surface falls within the scope of the present invention. For example, attachment or mounting devices associated with support fixtures may include one or more hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro(R), magnets, pins, bolts, screws, etc., and formed on or coupled to The associated structure to the supporting fixture, a fixing socket, bracket, etc. that can be fixed to the wall and designed to receive the supporting fixture. The attachment or mounting means need not be associated with the base 201 , but may also be coupled or formed on other parts of the support fixture, eg outwardly or upwardly facing structures/surfaces such as the abutment surface 302 .

Embodiments of the invention may also include any feature or characteristic of an arrangement incorporated herein by reference. For example, embodiments of the invention may include or be associated with audio devices, sensing devices for sensing human presence and performing corresponding actions, variable image positioning, and interactive features including providing product information in response to user queries. Embodiments of the invention may also be capable of wired or wireless communication with a network.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated and/or described in detail herein. It should be appreciated, however, that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and fall within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (23)

1, a kind of display system comprises the electronic display unit that is contained in the supporting adn fixing device, and wherein this supporting adn fixing device can be disposed on the surface of basic horizontal and can walk thereon, can also be installed on the non-horizontal surface.

2, display system according to claim 1, wherein this non-horizontal surface is vertical substantially.

3, display system according to claim 1, wherein this electronic display unit can show static state or dynamic image.

4, a kind of display system comprises:

Electronic display unit; With

Be used to hold the supporting adn fixing device of this electronic display unit, this supporting adn fixing device comprises:

Be used to cover the protective cover of this electronic display unit;

Be used to support the support frame of this protective cover;

Connect the shell on boundary with this protective cover; With

Base portion;

Wherein this base portion, protective cover and shell are enclosed in electronic display unit wherein basically; And

Wherein this supporting adn fixing device is suitable for being disposed on the surface of basic horizontal and can walks thereon; protect this electronic display unit not to be damaged simultaneously, and comprise and be used for this supporting adn fixing device and electronic display unit are installed in erecting equipment on the non-horizontal surface.

5, display system according to claim 4 also comprises the control electronic equipment with respect to this electronic display unit lateral arrangement.

6, display system according to claim 5, wherein this control electronic equipment is configured to be arranged in the basic plane identical with this electronic display unit.

7, display system according to claim 4, wherein this erecting equipment comprises the structure that engages with the projection of non-horizontal surface.

8, display system according to claim 7, wherein this erecting equipment comprises ring.

9, display system according to claim 7, wherein this erecting equipment is included in the recess that forms in the supporting construction.

10, display system according to claim 4, wherein this erecting equipment is coupled to or is formed on the base portion.

11, display system according to claim 10, wherein this erecting equipment is coupled to or is formed on the outward flange of base portion.

12, display system according to claim 4, wherein the surface, boundary that connects of this shell has the inclined-plane.

13, display system according to claim 12, wherein this inclined-plane extends on the distance between 6 inches and 12 inches.

14, display system according to claim 12, wherein this inclined-plane extends on the distance between 8 inches and 10 inches.

15, display system according to claim 4 wherein connects the outer peripheral thickness in surface, boundary less than 0.1 inch.

16, display system according to claim 4 wherein connects the outer peripheral thickness in surface, boundary between 0.02 inch and 0.08 inch.

17, display system according to claim 4, wherein the thick of this display system be 0.3 inch thick to 1 inch.

18, display system according to claim 4, wherein the thick of this display system be 0.5 inch thick to 0.7 inch.

19, display system according to claim 4, wherein this electronic display unit comprises the polylith display panel.

20, display system according to claim 19, wherein this support frame comprises the element that is arranged between this polylith display panel.

21, display system according to claim 19, wherein the inward flange of this shell forms the periphery of this display panel.

22, a kind of slim display system that is used to be placed on the floor; this display system comprises the electronic display unit that protected cover covers and the inclined-plane of the formation thin edges that is tapered defines; can walk on this display system, this inclined-plane and thin edges are used to reduce the possibility that the people is tripped by this display system.

23, a kind of slim display system that is used to be placed on the floor; this display system comprises the electronic display unit that is closed in basically in protective cover and thin outer crust and the base portion; this electronic display unit is arranged on the center with respect to shell basically, and the control electronic equipment that is used for this electronic display unit is disposed near this electronic display unit periphery and is accommodated in this shell and the base portion.

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