Flexible pixel string hardware and method cross references to related applications

Abstract

 A graphical display station of arbitrary shape such as channel letters or other shaped structures is populated with pixels which are components of flexible pixel strings which can be arranged to fit the arbitrary shape(s). The flexible pixel strings provide for straightforward and cost effective fabrication of channel letter or other shaped displays. The invention also includes pixel units which comprise lighting elements together with such control circuits as are needed to properly drive the lighting elements to form a graphical image. Addressing of the particular pixels is provided to accommodate the arbitrary arrangement of pixels of the flexible pixel strings. Methods of fabricating a channel letter display are also disclosed. The present invention also relates to image displays and signage, and more particularly, to displays of custom or arbitrary shape. Such shaped displays include channel letter displays, logo or design displays, curved or round displays, or other arbitrary shaped or unusual aspect ratio displays. The present invention further relates to software for transforming image data from a multidimensional array corresponding to a physical rectangular grid to a multidimensional array corresponding to a physical arbitrary shape.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to image displays and signage, and more particularly, to displays of custom or arbitrary shape. Such shaped displays include channel letter displays, logo or design displays, curved or round displays, or other arbitrary shaped or unusual aspect ratio displays.
The present invention further relates to software for transforming image data from a multidimensional array corresponding to a physical rectangular grid to a multidimensional array corresponding to a physical arbitrary shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Displays have become increasingly more sophisticated, progressing from monochrome incandescent and LED to color to moving or changing to video quality displays, and from smaller to larger size, and with more elaborate content and control and driving systems. Channel letter type displays have progressed from simple neon or fluorescent light displays to video type displays. The construction of modern video-type channel letter or arbitrary shaped displays is typically accomplished using standard rectangular grid video components. Such use of rectangular grid video components is awkward and wasteful, and in some implementations lacks the full desired effect that channel letter shaped video components could provide. However, the production of shaped video components in arbitrary shapes is expensive and inefficient at present. Further, the rectangular grid video components and control system can be inadequate for creating the custom shaped displays that are becoming increasingly desired. Thus, there is need for efficient and cost effective production of arbitrary shaped displays and for a way to map standard rectangular image data onto an arbitrary shaped array and software to facilitate the conversion of rectangular to arbitrary shape.

DEFINITIONS

[0004] By "addressing means" herein is meant hardware device for identifying a particular pixel, lighting element, or display element so that a display controller can send data to the particular pixel, lighting element, or display element among a group of multiple pixels, lighting elements, or display elements.

[0005] By "control circuit" herein is meant electronic circuit which receives data and changes the lighting output of one or more pixels or lighting elements.

[0006] By "display element" herein is meant a subsystem or portion of a display.

[0007] By "display" herein is meant a graphical image display device such as a video screen, electronic ticker, scoreboard, channel letter display, array or series of lights, visual output device.

[0008] By "flexible connection" herein is meant mounting, mechanical, or electrical components which attach to a pixel, lighting element, or display element to provide power, signal communication, or physical attachment.

[0009] By "lighting element" herein is meant components which generate or modify light, such as an LED, light bulb, neon light, phosphorescent component, cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, backlight, laser, or optical fiber.

[0010] By "pixel string" herein is meant a set of pixels or other series of lighting elements.

[0011] By "pixel" herein is meant picture element, a set of one or more lighting elements which make up a single region of a graphical image.

[0012] By "power circuit" herein is meant an electric circuit which provides electrical power to drive one or more lighting elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a display in any arbitrary shape. Such a display can be useful for signage, presentation of video information, and so forth, in channel letters or other arbitrary shapes as are desired. Such a display could be adapted as a large graphical display, scoreboard, ticker, billboard, informational signage, or other configurations and applications. The flexible pixel string of the present invention is also well suited for other indoor or outdoor architectural lighting applications. For example, lighting elements mounted in a room, in, behind or on a wall, ceiling, floor, or divider, or lighting elements on a building or external structure, such as a walkway, pole or fence, could be configured with flexible pixel strings for efficient and versatile custom lighting effects. Flexible pixel strings can be used to locate lighting elements behind a glass wall, in ceiling tiles, in recessive fixtures, and so forth, providing individual access and control of individual lighting elements for specialized illumination effects or display of video data or other graphical information.

[0014] The basic concept underlying the present invention is similar to having a rope of decorative lights that would be mounted to a display of any shape, such as with the lights protruding through holes to be visible from the front of the display, and the flexible connections and wires hidden behind the display surface. By simply affixing the lights to any chosen locations on the display, any arbitrary shape can easily be fabricated.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a video-capable display, including multiple pixels arranged in an arbitrary configuration, with lighting elements, control circuits, power circuits, and flexible connections.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flexible pixel string, including multiple control circuits, each driving at least one pixel, with flexible connections.

[0017] According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display element, including a control circuit, at least one lighting element, addressing means and at least one flexible connection.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic circuit which provides multiple levels of control for a pixel or other display element.

[0019] According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating a flexible pixel string.

[0020] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating a display of arbitrary shape.

[0021] According to another additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of addressing a particular pixel on a flexible pixel string.

[0022] One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the efficient utilization of the minimum number of lighting elements and other costly electronic components.

[0023] Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the flexible pixel string which provides for production of displays of any arbitrary shape.

[0024] Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the multiple display elements which provide for distributed control of pixels and lighting elements.

[0025] Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the multiple electronic circuits providing individual control of a pixel or other display element.

[0026] A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the flexible connections which provide for any arbitrary arrangement of pixels or display elements.

[0027] A still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the addressing means for identifying a particular pixel or display element for activating the particular pixel or display element in the desired manner and timing even if the pixel or display element is part of a flexible pixel string with arbitrary shape and not part of a regular rectangular grid or array.

[0028] Having thus described embodiments of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a display in any arbitrary shape and to provide means for sending standard rectangular image data to the display. Such a display can be useful for signage, presentation of video information, and so forth, in channel letters or other arbitrary shapes as are desired.

[0029] One object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and cost effective display.

[0030] Another object of the present invention is to provide a display with moving video capabilities.

[0031] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide displays that are curved, angled, channel letter, logo shaped, or otherwise shaped.

[0032] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible pixel string which can be used as a component in a display with arbitrary shape.

[0033] A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple electronic circuit which can be used to control a single pixel or other display element.

[0034] A still further object of the present invention is to provide for addressing a particular pixel on a flexible pixel string.

[0035] The present invention is similar to having a rope of decorative lights that would be mounted to a display of any shape, such as with the lights protruding through holes to be visible from the front of the display, and the flexible connections and wires hidden behind the display surface. By simply affixing the lights to any chosen locations on the display, any arbitrary shape can easily be fabricated.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided software for a video-capable display, where the display comprises multiple pixels arranged in an arbitrary configuration with flexible connections.

[0037] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided software for a flexible pixel string.

[0038] According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided software for a display element, where the display element comprises a control circuit, at least one lighting element, addressing means and at least one flexible connection.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided software for a display controller, where such software maps a starting rectangular image data onto an array of logical rows and logical columns of pixels corresponding to a physical shape and/or size which is different from that of the starting rectangular image.

[0040] According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of transforming a rectangular image data array into an image data array of arbitrary shape.

[0041] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of mapping an image data array of one shape to an image data array of different shape.

[0042] According to another additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided software for creating a map of rectangular rows and columns to logical rows and columns of arbitrary shape from a computer drawing of pixels arranged in the arbitrary shape.

[0043] According to yet another additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a software map from a physical shape, where the software map facilitates the mapping of a data array of a first shape onto a data array of a second shape.

[0044] One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the efficient utilization of the minimum number of lighting elements and other costly electronic components.

[0045] Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is software for the flexible pixel string which provides for production of displays of any arbitrary shape. The software also enables such flexibility by allowing a library of unique pixel elements and pixel arrays to be created and saved. This software then allows a user to choose and select different desired pixel elements (a string of pixels being one example of a pixel element) and then assists the user in creating the logical to physical row and column positioning translation.

[0046] Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is software for multiple display elements which provide for distributed control of pixels and lighting elements.

[0047] Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a straightforward process for making a software map from one or more physical shapes.

[0048] A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a straightforward process for making a software map from one or more software description(s) of particular shapes.

[0049] A still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is software for addressing a particular pixel or display element for sending image data to the particular pixel or display element to activate the particular pixel or display element in a desired manner and timing even if the pixel or display element is part of a flexible pixel string with arbitrary shape and not part of a regular rectangular grid or array.

[0050] One object of the present invention is to provide software for efficient and cost effective display of graphical data.

[0051] Another object of the present invention is to provide software for a display with moving video capabilities.

[0052] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide software for displays that are curved, angled, channel letter, logo shaped, or otherwise shaped.

[0053] Still another object of the present invention is to provide software for a flexible pixel string which can be used as a component in a display with arbitrary shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art display;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art display;

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a channel letter display with flexible pixel strings, the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flexible pixel string;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a pixel unit of FIG. 6.;

FIG. 8 illustrates prefabricated flexible pixel strings;

FIG. 9 illustrates a display element;

FIG. 10 illustrates prefabricated display elements;

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically the addressing of pixels; and,

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the operation of a graphical display station with channel letter or shaped structure display(s) having flexible pixel strings.

FIG. 13 is a map for software which transforms a rectangular image data array into an arbitrary shape image data array;

FIG. 14 is an address nomenclature for the map of FIG. 1;

FIG.15 is schematic software for transforming a rectangular image data array into an arbitrary shape image data array, the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a display element;

FIG. 17 is a prefabricated display element; and,

FIG. 18 is a method of the present invention.

HARDWARE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate prior art displays. Display 10a is a prior art rectangular grid display. Graphical image 12 fills display 10a. Letter shapes 14a-14d are displayed in an attempt to have the visual effect of a channel letter display. A display of this type lacks the visual effect of a true channel letter display. This prior art approach starts with display 10a and covers or removes those portions that are outside of letter shapes 14a-14d. In FIG. 2, still another prior art approach is to fabricate channel letters 16a-16d using rectangular grid components. These alternate prior art approaches might produce channel letter displays with the general appearance of FIG. 2, which illustrates a display 10b having channel letters 16a-16d and displaying graphical image 12. These alternate prior art approaches require significant custom fabrication and are not always even feasible, depending on the particular display type.

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged portion of the prior art display 10b of FIG. 2. A rectangular grid of pixels 18 is shown, with pixels 18p present in the display 10b (shown with solid lines), and pixels 18a which are absent or have been removed or covered (shown with dashed lines). Line 20 indicates the desired edge of a channel letter 16 of display 10b.

[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates a channel letter display 22 with flexible pixel strings, the present invention, including shaped structure(s) 24. Although appearing similar to the prior art display of FIG. 2, the display of FIG. 4 is distinct in the manner in which it is produced and due to the presence of flexible pixel strings instead of prior art rectangular gridded pixels. Illustrated shaped structure(s) 24 can be channel letters 24a-24d or can be logo shapes, figure shapes, circular or curved shapes or sections, linear shapes, outlines, patterns, or combinations thereof. Channel letters 24a-24d spelling a company name, product name, place name, or other word or phrase may be desired. The channel letter display 22 can be a single shaped structure or can be multiple shaped structures 24, as shown. In this example, the shaped structures 24 are channel letters 24a-24d and the word "flag" is used for the channel letters 24a-24d and a graphical image 26 of a flag fills channel letters 24a-24d. In use, graphical image 26 may be any variety of images, designs, and so forth. For example, a moving (or animated) video image of a flag waving in the breeze could be "played" on channel letter display 22.

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display 22 of FIG. 4. Portions of three flexible pixel strings 28a, 28b and 28n are shown. Each channel letter 24a-24d comprises at least one pixel 30, but typically comprises many pixels. The individual pixels in each channel letter 24a-24d are in flexible pixel strings 28a-28n which are curvilinear strings with flexible connections 32 and arranged, by individual strings or group of strings, to form the shape of the channel letter or shaped structure(s) 24. Any convenient number of pixels 30 can be used in the flexible pixel strings 28a-28n, and the number of pixels can vary from string to string.

[0059] Flexible pixel string 28a comprises pixels 34a-34n where n is the number of pixels in the flexible pixel string 28a. Similarly, flexible pixel string 28b comprises a number of pixels 36a-36n, where the number of pixels may be the same as or different from the number of pixels in flexible pixel string 28a. Still similarly, flexible pixel string 28n comprises a number of pixels 38a-38n, where the number of pixels may be the same as or different from the number of pixels in flexible pixel strings 28a and 28b. The flexible pixel strings 28a-28n may be formed into lines, curves, zig zags, or other pattern or shape as needed to form the channel letter or shaped structure 24 as desired, and the flexible pixel strings 28a-28n may terminate at any point within or at the periphery of the channel letter or shaped structure.

[0060] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate a flexible pixel string 40, similar to flexible pixel strings 28a, 28b and 28n of FIG. 5. Flexible pixel string 40 comprises at least one pixel 42 and at least one flexible connection 44a-44n. Preferably, the flexible pixel string 40 has multiple pixels 42 as shown. Each pixel 42 has lighting element(s) 46 (FIG. 7) as required for the type of display; for example, red, green, and blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) (i.e., 56R, 56G, 56B, respectively) with drive circuits 48 and control circuits 50 which could be combined into pixel unit 52 and connected with flexible connections 44a-44n. Other types of lighting elements with appropriate drive circuits could be used, such as incandescent or other lights, lasers, monochrome lights, liquid crystal elements, and so forth.

[0061] In the preferred embodiment, for each pixel 42, a simple control circuit 50 is included, physically attached to the pixel 42. Each flexible pixel string 40 has one or more control circuit 50/lighting element(s) 46 combinations connected in series by flexible connections 44a-44n. Flexible connections 44a-44n include electrical, data, or activation connections which pass electrical power, graphical image data, or other activation mechanism to and from the pixel units 52. Flexible connections 44a-44n also include mounting or attachment connections which provide for the pixel unit 52 to be affixed in the desired arbitrary location. A single component flexible connections 44a-44n may provide both the data connection and the mounting connection, or multiple flexible connections 44a-44n may be used, distributing the data connection, mounting connection, and other connection functions among the multiple flexible connections 44a-44n.

[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a pixel unit 52 of FIG. 6. This example indicates lighting elements 46 which comprise red LED 56R, green LED 56G, and blue LED 56B. Each LED has a corresponding LED drive circuit 48. Each drive circuit 48 has a corresponding control circuit 50 which receives data from and through a flexible connection, for example, flexible connection 44a. If pixel unit 52 is not the last pixel unit in the flexible pixel string 40, then control circuit 50 also passes data to flexible connection 44b. In this example, flexible connection 44a and flexible connection 44b include data cables which pass image data, clock or timing signals, data latch signal, and may pass other data or electrical power as well. Control circuit 50 includes logic elements as are needed to properly activate the corresponding LED 56R, 56G or 56B, such as comparitors, counters, clocks, timers, latches, and so forth, by creating, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) function used to control the lighting intensity, duration, and timing for the corresponding LED. An integrated circuit 58 which comprises some or all of the elements of pixel unit 52 can be used advantageously to provide for easy and cost effective fabrication of shaped structure(s), including channel letters 24a-24d, in display 22, such as that of FIG. 4.

[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates standard or prefabricated pixel strings 60 with particular numbers and spacing of pixels 42 to facilitate construction of one or more channel letters 24a-24n of the shaped structure display 24. One would simply choose appropriate pixel strings to combine into the particular channel letter or shaped structure being constructed.

[0064] FIG. 9 illustrates display element 62. Display element 62 has some similarity to the prefabricated pixel string 60, but utilizes arrangements which could be a conventional rectangular grid of pixels 42 and pixel units 52 or arbitrary shaped pixel units 52 but with at least one flexible connection 64. Thus, the display element 62 may be positioned and oriented as needed to form a desired shaped structure 24, but does not have exclusively flexible connections between each pixel unit 52. The entire display element 62 is then used as a component, and multiple display elements 62 are used to create a shaped structure display 24 which could include a channel letter 24a-24d or which could be of some other shape.

[0065] FIG. 10 illustrates prefabricated display elements 66 with particular numbers and orientation of pixels 42 and pixel units 52 to facilitate construction of a shaped structure display 24 which can include a channel letter 24a-24d. One would simply choose appropriate display elements 66 to combine into the shaped structure 24 being constructed. A particularly advantageous approach is to utilize prefabricated display elements 66 together with flexible pixel strings 40 or prefabricated flexible pixel strings 60 to construct a shaped structure display 24 quickly and cost effectively. An additional advantageous aspect of the present invention is that the display element can be easily scaled up or scaled down in size and number of pixels. For example, the pixel unit or display element may comprise one full-color RGB or monochrome lighting element, or it can be scaled up so that each element on the flexible pixel string is an array of pixels. For instance, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, or other sized array of pixels or lighting elements can be incorporated or substituted for individual pixels or display elements. A large outdoor display could then comprise a string of large pixel arrays. The present invention provides for the utilization of large or small or intermixed pixel arrays or other shaped display elements. A particular flexible pixel string could incorporate a single pixel, a 4x4 pixel array, and a 32x32 pixel array, on the same pixel string. The hardware protocol is optimized to allow such variation, and corresponding software is optimized to enable such variation and substitution by allowing a library of pixel arrays and display elements to be created and saved. One may then simply choose and select the different pixel arrays and display elements desired, aided by software tools.

[0066] FIG. 11 illustrates schematically the addressing of pixels. Portions of flexible pixel strings 28d and 28e of channel letter display 22 are shown. Flexible pixel strings 28d and 28e are assigned a logical row to identify each flexible pixel string 28d and 28e. Within each flexible pixel string 28d and 28e, each pixel 30 is assigned a logical column to uniquely address each pixel 30. In this manner, each pixel 30 is uniquely addressable so that display controller 68 (FIG. 12) can send an image data set which will pass the appropriate image data to each pixel 30 to create a desired image even though the pixels 30 are not arranged in a standard rectangular grid arrangement. Pixels 30 on FIG. 11 are further denoted by the letter "P" in the form P(r,c), where r and c indicate a unique address.

[0067] Graphical image data 72 can be mapped from a standard rectangular array onto the logical row and logical column arrayed flexible pixel string 28a-28b by software. The software can accommodate scaling of data from single pixels to larger pixel arrays, such as 2x2 or 32x32 or other size pixel array, and may provide for creation and use of a library of pixel arrays and other display elements, and assist a user in selecting display elements and performing the image data mapping for the chosen display elements. Data, typically including graphical image data 72, timing data, and addressing data, are sent from display controller 68 to the shaped structure display 22, so that the shaped structure display 22 can display graphical image 26 as desired. Data sent to the shaped structure display 22 can comprise any variety of information, but typically includes any combination of color, hue, intensity, duration, timing, clock signal, and addressing data.

HARDWARE MODE OF OPERATION

[0068] FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the operation of a graphical display station with shaped structure display(s) 22 having flexible pixel strings 28a-28n. Display controller 68, which may receive data from any data source (not shown), sends corresponding graphical image data 72 to software 70 which maps the graphical image data 72 onto logical rows and columns of pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) where n refers to the number of logical rows and m refers to the number of logical columns in each logical row. Note that the number of logical columns may vary among the various logical rows. Graphical image data 72 passes via flexible connections 74a-74n to pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) of flexible pixel strings 28a-28n. Pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) comprise pixel units 52 which comprise control circuits 50 and lighting elements 46, as previously described in FIG. 7. Control circuits 50 receive graphical image data 72 and cause lighting elements 46 to activate at the lighting color, intensity, and timing corresponding to the graphical image data 72 for the particular pixel. Graphical image data 72 passes via the next flexible connections 74a-74n to the next pixel units in the flexible pixel strings 28a-28n and so forth so that every pixel unit in every flexible pixel string receives graphical image data 72 and activates accordingly to create graphical image 26.

SOFTWARE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] FIG. 13 is a portion of channel letter 100 comprising a plurality of flexible pixel strings 102a-102n. The flexible pixels strings 102a-102n could also be referred to as display elements which comprise a plurality of pixels 104 and flexible connections 106. Flexible pixel strings 102 are assigned a logical row to identify each flexible pixel string 102. Within each flexible pixel string 102, each pixel 104 is assigned a logical column to uniquely address each pixel 104. In this manner, each pixel 104 is uniquely addressable so that a display controller (not shown) can send an image data set which will pass the appropriate image data to each pixel 104 to create a desired image even though the pixels 104 may not be arranged in a standard rectangular grid. Dotted lines 108 indicate portions of the edges of the channel letter 100. In this example, the pixels 104 are shown in a regular rectangular grid for clarity of illustration; however, the pixels 104 of flexible pixel strings 102 may be arranged substantially in curved or other orientation by use of flexible connections 106 between some or all pixels 104 in a pixel string 102. Loop 110 indicates annotation and addressing parameters for a particular pixel 104 in a pixel string 102 as illustrated for an annotation scheme 112 in FIG. 14.

[0070] FIG. 14 indicates the annotation scheme 112 for pixels 104 of FIG. 13. Multiple parameter characters are shown within the annotation scheme 112 with the first parameter illustrated corresponding to a logical row (LR) for an individual pixel 104. The second parameter corresponds to a logical column (LC) for that individual pixel 104. The third and fourth parameters describe the location of that individual pixel 104 on a spatial coordinate system. In this example, a rectangular grid spatial coordinate arrangement is used for clarity of illustration. The third parameter corresponds to the row (y), and the fourth parameter corresponds to the column (x) on the rectangular grid coordinate system. If a different spatial coordinate arrangement is used (i.e., not rectangular), the third, fourth, or additional parameters may be assigned to similarly locate a pixel in space. For example, angle and radius, or region and element, or x, y and z, or r, 2 and t, or other direct or transformed location parameters convenient to specify the location of the particular pixel 104 in space.

[0071] FIG. 15 illustrates in schematic fashion software 114 for transforming a rectangular or other regular shape image data array into an arbitrary shape image data array. Software 114 maps image data 118 from the rectangular image data array 116 onto a channel letter image data array 120. The channel letter image data array 120 comprises logical row, logical column, referring to rectangular grid coordinates y, and rectangular grid coordinates x for the portion of channel letter 10 also shown in FIG. 13. Optionally, software 114 may reorder the data, sorting by coordinates x and y as shown in reordered array 122, but this is not required. Steps involved in transforming the rectangular image 124 into an image data stream 126, discussed subsequently, result in displaying portions of the rectangular image 124 as "fill" within the outlines or dotted lines 108 of channel letters 128. This is an attractive display and a highly desired result. Further, if the rectangular image 124 is animated, then the resulting "fill" within the outlines or dotted lines 108 of channel letters 128 may retain the animated nature, thereby further enhancing the desirability of the display. By way of a nonlimiting example, one might envision an animated waving flag as the rectangular image 124. The animated "fill" within the outline or dotted lines 108 of channel letters 128 would retain the animated effect. This is accomplished by incremental changes in the image data stream 126.

[0072] FIG. 16 illustrates display element 132. Display element 132 has some similarity to the prefabricated pixel string 102, but utilizes arrangements which could be a conventional rectangular grid of pixels 104 and pixel units 130 or arbitrary shaped pixel units 130 but with at least one flexible connection 136. Thus, the display element 132 may be positioned and oriented as needed to form a desired shaped structure, but does not have exclusively flexible connections between each pixel unit 104. The entire display element 132 is then used as a component, and multiple display elements 132 are used to create a shaped structure display which could include a channel letter or which could be to form some other shape.

[0073] FIG. 17 illustrates prefabricated display elements with particular numbers and orientation of pixels 104 and pixel units 130, which may optionally be organized into display elements 134, to facilitate construction of a shaped structure display which can include a channel letter. One would simply choose appropriate display elements 134 to combine into the shaped structure being constructed. A particularly advantageous approach is to utilize prefabricated display elements together with flexible pixel strings 102 or prefabricated flexible pixel strings 102 to construct a shaped structure display quickly and cost effectively. An additional advantageous aspect of the present invention is that the display element can be easily scaled up or scaled down in size and number of pixels. For example, the pixel unit or display element may comprise one full-color RGB or monochrome lighting element, or it can be scaled up so that each element on the flexible pixel string is an array of pixels. For instance, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, or other sized array of pixels or lighting elements can be incorporated or substituted for individual pixels or display elements. A large outdoor display could then comprise a string of large pixel arrays. The present invention provides for the utilization of large or small or intermixed pixel arrays or other shaped display elements. A particular flexible pixel string could incorporate a single pixel, a 4x4 pixel array, and a 32x32 pixel array, on the same pixel string. The hardware protocol is optimized to allow such variation, and corresponding software is optimized to enable such variation and substitution by allowing a library of pixel arrays and display elements to be created and saved. One may then simply choose and select the different pixel arrays and display elements desired, aided by software tools.

[0074] FIG. 18 illustrates steps in a method of the present invention. In a first step 138, a map of rectangular (row and column location) to arbitrary array address is provided. Next, at step 140, a data array for a rectangular data array is provided. Next, at step 142, the rectangular data array is transformed to corresponding arbitrary addresses. Then, at step 144, the mapped transformed data is sent as a data stream 126 to the arbitrary sign for display as a corresponding image, such as channel letters 128.

SOFTWARE MODE OF OPERATION

[0075] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered as illustration of the invention and not as a limitation. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the following claims and equivalents. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other variations and modifications of the invention described herein can be included within the scope of the present invention. Various features of the invention are grouped together in the several embodiments for illustration; this grouping is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

[0076] Software 114 reads image data corresponding to a rectangular image 124, and assigns the image data (such as red, green, blue, time slice, intensity, duration, and so forth) to particular x and y coordinates. Note that channel letter image data arrays 120 and 122 do not show the assigned image data such as LR and LC as included in the annotation scheme 112 for the purpose of brevity; additional columns in the arrays (not shown) correspond to the image data 118. Software 114 then reads image data pixel-by-pixel in the order indicated in reordered array 122, and sends image data stream 126 as indicated to the channel letters 128 for display. When channel letters 128 receive the image data stream 126, the particular pixel 104 in a flexible pixel string 102 which is addressed by the particular logical row and logical column activates according to the corresponding image data 118. Data stream 126 provides image data to each pixel 104 in each flexible pixel string 102 in this manner. The present invention thus provides for a graphical channel letter 128 or arbitrary shape display of video images or graphical data in a convenient and efficient manner by transforming image data from the rectangular image 124 for display by the channel letters 128 utilizing pixel strings 102, i.e., the image data 118 of the rectangular image data array 116, such as bounded and described graphically as the word "flag" for example and illustration, and the stars and stripes image shown graphically on the rectangular image 124 have commonality which results in channel letters 128 graphically shaped as the word "flag" having stars and stripes fill.

[0077] Note that in this illustration rectangular image data is transformed onto channel letters 128; any shape image data can be similarly transformed onto other image shape(s) by the present invention. The invention is thus not limited only to rectangular image data for display on channel letter displays. Similarly, any display elements may be substituted for or combined with the flexible pixel strings 102 illustrated to efficiently form any display shape using the present invention.

[0078] The software tool also enables such flexibility by allowing a library of unique pixel elements and pixel arrays to be created and saved. This software tool then allows you to choose and select the different pixel elements (string of pixels is one example) desired and then assists the user in creating the logical to physical row and column positioning translation.

[0079] Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope thereof.

PARTS LIST

[0080] 

10a

display, prior art

10b

display, prior art

12

graphical image

14a-d

letter shapes

16

channel letter

16a-d

channel letters

18

rectangular grid of pixels

18a

pixels

18p

pixels

20

line

22

channel letter display

24

shaped structure

24a-n

channel letters

26

graphical image

28a-n

flexible pixel strings

30

pixels

32

flexible connections

34a-n

pixels

36

pixels

38

pixels

40

flexible pixel string

42

pixel

44

flexible connection

44a-n

flexible connections

46

lighting element

48

drive circuits

50

control circuits

52

pixel unit

56

light emitting diodes (LEDs)

56R

red LED

56G

green LED

56B

blue LED

58

integrated circuit

60

prefabricated pixel strings

62

display element

64

flexible connection

66

display elements

68

display controller

70

software

72

graphical image data

74a-n

flexible connections

100

channel letter

102

flexible pixel strings

104

pixels

106

flexible connections

108

line

110

loop

112

annotation scheme

114

software

116

rectangular image data array

118

image data

120

channel letter image data array

122

reordered array

124

rectangular image

126

image data stream

128

channel letters

130

pixel unit

132

display element

134

display elements

136

flexible connection

138

step a

140

step b

142

step c

144

step d

Claims

1. A graphical display element comprising:

a. a pixel; and,

b. a flexible connection.

2. A flexible pixel string for a graphical display comprising:

a. a plurality of pixels;

b. a plurality of flexible connections; and,

c. said flexible connections provide for activation of said pixels and provide for variable positioning of said pixels into an arbitrary shape.

3. A graphical display element comprising:

a. a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit comprising at least one lighting element and at least one control circuit; and,

b. a plurality of flexible connections, each flexible connection comprising means to pass graphical image data to said pixel units.

4. A graphical display comprising at least one flexible pixel string.

5. The graphical display of claim 4, wherein said graphical display is architectural lighting comprising a plurality of lighting elements.

6. The graphical display of claim 4, wherein said graphical display is a channel letter display comprising a plurality of pixel strings.

7. The graphical display of claim 6, wherein said graphical display can present multicolor, moving images.

8. An integrated circuit for graphical displays comprising:

a. at least one LED;

b. at least one LED drive circuit;

c. at least one control circuit; and,

d. at least one flexible connection.

9. Software comprising means for transforming image data corresponding to one shape to image data corresponding to another shape.

10. A method of fabricating an arbitrary shape graphical display comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one flexible pixel string having a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of flexible connections; and,

b. positioning the pixel units to form a desired arbitrary shape.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the arbitrary shape includes channel letters, and the at least one flexible pixel string includes at least one flexible pixel string for each channel letter, and further comprising the step of forming the channel letters by positioning pixel units of at least one flexible pixel string for each channel letter.

12. A method of fabricating an arbitrary shape graphical display comprising the steps of:

a. providing prefabricated display elements of various configurations, where each display element comprises at least one pixel and at least one flexible connection;

b. selecting prefabricated display elements of particular configuration; and,

c. assembling the selected prefabricated display elements to form an arbitrary shape graphical display.

13. A method of addressing pixels in a display having a plurality of pixel strings of arbitrary shape configuration comprising the steps of:

a. defining an array of at least two dimensions, with one dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel string, and with another dimension comprising a unique designation corresponding to each pixel within the pixel string; and,

b. using the array to address each pixel in the display so that the particular graphical data for each pixel can be transferred to and received by each pixel to form a graphical image using the pixels.

14. A method for controlling the display on an electronic sign characterized by an arbitrary, nonrectangular array of video components, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a map of rectangular rows and columns corresponding to the electronic sign characterized by an arbitrary, nonrectangular array of video components;

b. providing a rectangular data array for controlling a rectangular array of video elements so as to display a rectangular image;

c. mapping of the rectangular data array to the arbitrary, nonrectangular electronic sign according to the provided map, thereby transforming the data array; and,

d. sending the mapped transformed data array to the electronic sign characterized by an arbitrary array of video components in the form of an image data stream so as to cause the display of an image similar to the rectangular image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the arbitrary, nonrectangular array of video components includes pixel strings.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pixel strings are arranged within the outlines or dotted lines of channel letters.

Drawing