EP1938297A1

EP1938297A1 - Display system

Info

Publication number: EP1938297A1
Application number: EP05782444A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Wolf; Gerhard Bisch
Original assignee: G-LEC Europe GmbH
Current assignee: G-LEC VISION GMBH
Priority date: 2005-09-02
Filing date: 2005-09-02
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Also published as: US20090016806A1; CN101297341A; BRPI0520501A2; WO2007028399A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display system having a large number of display panels. Each display panel comprises a large number of light-emitting elements. The display system also comprises a system controller for driving the display panels and a data bus which connects the system controller to each of the display panels.

Description

display system

The present invention relates to a display system having a plurality of light-emitting elements. The display system is configured to provide a predetermined representation, in particular on a screen, by suitably controlling the light emission of the light-emitting elements.

State of the art

The present invention is based on the display system disclosed in patent application EP 1 293 955 A2. The document EP 1 293 955 A2 shows a display device with a holding element and a plurality of light-emitting elements which are fastened to the holding element. The device is designed to display desired representations in a screen-like manner by suitably controlling the light emission of the light-emitting elements. The display device includes a display array of light emitting ^'elements. The display panel has a support frame and a plurality of rods with light-emitting elements, which are arranged in parallel and at a uniform distance from each other. The rods are attached to the support frame. Each rod is surrounded by a cylindrical translucent tube.

The display device of EP 1 293 955 A2 additionally comprises a light emission control means including a computer adapted to control the light emission of the plurality of light emitting element rods to control the display field. In particular, the rod of the prior art display device comprises a cylindrical translucent tube and a display module disposed in the translucent tube. The display module includes an elongate assembly and light emitting elements in the form of a plurality of pixels arranged along a line in the longitudinal direction of the elongated circuit package. Each pixel comprises LEDs of the three primary colors red (R), blue (B) and green (G) and a circuit for controlling the light emission connected to the pixels.

In particular, it is provided to connect a plurality of light-emitting display panels to the device to be provided. The light-emitting display panels are arranged in a vertical and horizontal direction according to a predetermined pattern. Furthermore, they are flexibly attached to each other. The pixels in the display modules are arranged in the form of a matrix in the light-emitting display panels. The control circuit drives the individual pixels in the matrix and controls their light emission, resulting in a color image.

A control system for driving the display panels is conventionally provided. The control system usually includes a controller consisting of a master computer and a plurality of slave computers. The control system generates bitmap image data stored in the controller. The master computer generates the bitmap image data and outputs it to the slave computers. Each slave computer is connected to one of the display panels via a signal cable. An internal control section of each display panel receives the image data via the connected signal cables to drive the individual light emitting elements accordingly. A disadvantage of the previously known actuation system is that when constructing the display fields, each of these display fields must be connected via a special data cable to a slave computer of the controller. For a large number of display panels, a corresponding number of cables must be laid. Conventionally, so-called multi-core cables are connected to the drive system. A multicore cable conventionally includes up to 72 individual data lines. The connection of each individual data line to the corresponding display field is a cumbersome and time-consuming job.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display system which can be constructed simply and quickly.

The object is achieved by the display system according to claim 1. The display system according to the invention has a multiplicity of display fields, each of which has a plurality

Have light-emitting elements. Furthermore, the display system includes a system controller for driving the display panels. A single data bus connects the system controller to each of the display panels.

A data bus is a subsystem of a computer architecture that exchanges data between different bus subscribers. The system controller and the display panels are each bus subscribers. By definition, there is a data bus if and only if the data flow is from one bus user to all other bus users. If a bus user issues data to the data bus, this data is sent to all bus users. Unlike a conventional port, a bus can interconnect multiple devices via the same set of conduits. A data bus can be physically set up by connecting all bus subscribers to a single cable via so-called T-connectors. In this case, there is a so-called bus topology. However, the bus users can also be connected to each other as links in a chain. The data flow then runs from chain link (bus participant) to the next bus participant. In this case too, the data reaches each bus subscriber, which is why there is also a data bus.

The advantage of the data bus lies in the simple wiring of the bus participants. The cable requirement of the data bus is lower than with conventional cabling, in which all display systems are connected in a star shape to the system controller. It is also easier to connect additional bus subscribers to the display system. The display system can be easily extended by further display modules. The display modules are only connected to the data bus.

Preferably, twisted pair cables, in particular Cat 5 cables, are used for the wiring of the individual bus subscribers. In the computer technology, twisted pair cables are cable types in which the two cores of a pair of wires are twisted together (also stranded or twisted). By twisting each of the Hinleiters with the return conductor of a current loop (the pair of wires), the data transmission is less susceptible to interference.

The Cat 5 cable is a special twisted pair cable used for high data rate signal transmission. The specific standard identifier is EIA / TIA-568. Because of the high signal frequencies, special care must be taken during installation and assembly, especially at the connection points of the wires. Steep specifications are respected. Category 5 cables are often used in structured cabling of computer networks such as Ethernet. The Cat-5e cable is an enhanced version of Cat 5 for use in 1000Base-T networks or for long-haul 10OBase-T network links (350 m, compared to 100 m for Cat 5). It must comply with the EIA / TIA-568A-5 specification, which has since been replaced by the EIA / TIA-568B specification.

Preferably, the system controller is used as a bus master and the display fields each act as bus slaves of the data bus. The components connected to a bus are also called nodes or bus subscribers. Nodes that are allowed to access the bus independently are called active nodes or masters, otherwise they are called passive nodes or slaves. Several bus users can not access the bus at the same time because, for example, several simultaneously transmitted data packets interfere with one another and interfere with one another. A bus that allows multiple master nodes is called a multimaster bus. For multimaster buses, bus access must be controlled by a special component called a bus arbiter. The node which initiates access to the bus is called the initiator; the destination of such a (read or write) access is called Target. Such a construction is considerably more complicated and expensive because additional components such as the arbiter are needed. Since it is generally not necessary for the display fields to automatically send information to the system

- To transmit stem control, the system control can be set up as the only bus master. The display system is thus less expensive and easier to operate. Preferably, the system controller is adapted to transmit data serially in the form of data packets via the data bus to a predetermined display field. In the case of serial data transmission, data is transmitted successively via a specific medium, here the bus line. In order for the data to arrive at the predetermined display field, each data packet contains a receiver address of the predetermined display field. Each display field is assigned exactly one address in the bus system. The display fields are then configured to use the receiver address to detect whether the data packet is addressed to them. The system controller transfers the data packet to the data bus. The data packets succeeded over the data bus automatically to each connected display field. The display fields use the receiver address to decide whether to process or discard the data packet.

The display system according to the invention preferably comprises a plurality of system controls, each of which can be connected via its own data bus with a predetermined number of display panels. The finite data transfer capacity of the data bus requires that the number of connected display fields is limited, so that moving images can be displayed in high resolution on the display fields. Preferably, display fields made up of 256 RGB pixels are used.

The display system is designed, for example, such that a maximum of 12 display fields can be connected to a system controller via a data bus. Other display fields can only be managed by the display system if additional system controls are provided. Preferably, a synchronization device is provided for synchronizing the system controls. The system controls must be synchronized, provided that the temporal Sequence of pictures or video sequences on the display panels to be set. The system controls have a timer, so to speak. Each of the timers is synchronized if it displays the same time each time. The synchronization can be done, for example, by the system controllers receiving the same clock signal.

The system controller preferably comprises a representation of a positioning and orientation of the display fields in a coordinate system. This representation is also called a virtual screen. The plurality of display panels connected to the system control usually form a contiguous uniform screen area for a viewer when viewed from a distance. It is therefore desirable to display a single coherent image on the display panels as a whole. For this purpose, the system control receives all information concerning the position and orientation of the display fields. This information is preferably given in a two-dimensional coordinate system.

For any image displayed in the coordinate system, corresponding image information of each display field can be calculated on the basis of the respective positioning and orientation. All image information that lies in the area of a display field in the coordinate system must be represented by the corresponding pixels of the display field. The system control assigns the individual pixels to the different display fields. In particular, the system controller determines which light-emitting elements of the display panel have to image the image information. Each display panel preferably includes its own internal signal conditioning device. This means that each display panel can be connected in series to another display panel of any cable length using conventional twisted-pair cables.

Each display panel has as light emitting elements preferably LED (light emitting diodes) and drivers for driving the LEDs. The drivers and the LEDs are preferably arranged on a circuit board and accommodated with the circuit board of a transparent tube. The display panel has several rows of tubes, each containing a circuit board with the driver and the LEDs. Each driver is sent a digital signal. Since the signal conditioning is done by the driver, the

Display tubes are installed at a fixed installation any distance from the frame of the display panel. The display tubes are usually driven together from a frame in which the internal device for signal processing is housed.

The heat generated by the LED driver is preferably removed by a special ventilation device. The ventilation system creates a flow of air through the tube which communicates the heat generated by the electronic drivers to the ambient air. The tube is open at both ends. A fan or fan generates the airflow at an open end of the tube. The heated air is transported away inside the tube and replaced by cool ambient air.

Preferably, the display system according to the invention comprises connection means adapted to releasably secure the display panels together and to connect the display panels in series. The connection On the one hand, these are connectors that ensure that the data is routed through the data bus. In addition, the Verbindungsinittel causes a mechanical attachment of the display panels together. From a plurality of display panels can thus be easily constructed a larger display panel by the display panels are fastened together by means of the connecting means. Furthermore, standardized connection means allow a modular design of the display system so that an existing group of display fields can easily be extended by a further display field.

By, the invention provides a display system which:

- is transparent and can thus be integrated into the background,

- has a modular structure, but still requires little visible picture surface for the frame,

- extremely light to be built by a single technician but stable enough to be transportable and survive the constant assembly and disassembly,

- easy and quick to set up is by a self-locking connector system,

- Easy and quick to set up by using only one RJ45 cable Cat5 for data transfer, can be quickly assembled to any size systems,

- flexible in construction, in order to bridge larger distances between modules, - can be used flexibly during operation,

- Can be used both indoors and outdoors temporarily as well as stationary, and

- Has a high luminosity of the LEDS with a large beam angle, so that appears in all directions a consistently bright picture. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it :

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the game ¹ according to the invention display system -. Fig. 2a is an embodiment of a virtual screen with a virtual image and virtual display fields,

FIG. 2b shows the virtual screen of FIG. 2a, in which the virtual image is displayed only in the region of the display;

3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a display panel according to the invention,

4 shows a perspective view of the display panel of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a block diagram of the exemplary embodiment of the display system according to the invention,

FIG. 6 a shows an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of the display panels according to the invention, FIG. 8 b shows two connection shafts for connecting two display panels according to the invention, FIG.

6c shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of the display panels according to the invention; FIG. 7a shows a sleeve of a first exemplary embodiment of a connecting means according to the invention;

FIG. 7b shows a plug of the first exemplary embodiment of the connecting means according to the invention, FIG.

FIG. 7c shows the sleeve of FIG. 7a and the connector of FIG. 7b in the assembled state, FIG. FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the connecting means according to the invention, FIG.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the connection means according to the invention, FIG.

FIG. 10 a shows an upper section of the display panel according to the invention, FIG.

FIG. 10b shows a lower section of the display panel according to the invention; FIG. 11a shows a cross-sectional view of the connection means according to the invention in the open state;

Fig. IIb shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting means according to the invention in the closed state, - Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of a connecting rod for connecting the display panels according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of the inventive display system. The display system comprises a personal computer 10 which serves to control the display fields. The personal computer 10 has a graphics card. With the aid of the graphics card, the calculations for generating the image data for the display system are performed. The graphics card has a specialized chipset for performing graphics calculations, which speeds up calculations and relieves the burden on the processor. To an interface card 1-2, a Cat 5 cable 14 is connected, which acts as a bus line. A display panel in Fig. 1 comprises an upper frame 16 and a lower frame. The bus line 14 connects the upper frame 16 of the display panel to the interface card 12 of the personal computer 10. The upper frame part 16 of the display panel consists of an aluminum housing in which the entire control electronics is located. A communication unit 22 and a CPU 24, ie a central processing unit, are components of the control electronics of the display panel. The display field accordingly has an independent computing unit, which, for example, could at least partially take over the calculation of the control signals for the graphic display of the display field from the graphics card 12. However, the communication unit 22 and the CPU are primarily intended to facilitate the exchange of data between the system controller 12 and the other display panels (not shown) over the data bus, the communication unit 22 receiving and buffering data packets passing over the data bus , Another bus line 28 is provided, which connects the display panel shown with the next display panel, not shown.

Based on the address fields of the received data packets, the CPU determines whether these are intended for the displayed display field. Each display panel and the system controller have a unique address in the data bus. The bus data is serial, i. one after the other over the bus lines. Each data packet contains an address field which contains the address of the display field to which the data packet is to arrive. If the CPU 24 recognizes that the address in the address field matches the address of its own display field, the received data packet is processed further. Otherwise, the data packet is forwarded via the bus line 28 to the next display field.

The display system has a modular structure, with each display field consisting of, for example, 256 RGB pixels, which are included in the two-dimensional grid of 60mm are arranged. The display panels represent the modules of the display system. Due to the two-dimensional grid, gaps are created which are used for transparent image design on stage theaters or in architecture.

Sixteen transparent polycarbonate tubes are firmly connected to the frame of the display panel at a distance of 60mm. In Fig. 1, one of these tubes 18 is shown schematically. In each of these tubes is a long, narrow board, on which at intervals of 60mm a total of 16 luminous dots are distributed. Each luminous point consists of exactly one red, one green and one blue light emitting diode (LED). In Fig. 1, the red LEDs are lit by. Reference numeral 20a, the green LEDs with 20b and the blue LEDs with 20c denoted. Also on this board are the driver ICs for the LEDS. The abbreviation IC stands for integrated circuit. Consequently, the drivers are implemented as circuit arrangement on the board. The CPU processes the image data received via the bus line 16 and outputs it to the corresponding driver ICs in an appropriate form.

At least one LED each in the colors red, green and blue is used as the light source. Manufacturer is eg Digital Light, Nichia or Everlight. The LEDS light up in the primary colors, which allow by their special selection any color mixing in the color spectrum. The same effect can be achieved by using RGB LEDs. These are LEDs with 3 different crystals in one housing. Also, SMD LEDs can be used. When choosing the. LEDs are set to a large beam angle of at least 70 ° with high luminous intensity respects. In addition, LEDs of the highest color and intensity selection level are used to avoid color and brightness differences. Differences in color and brightness are particularly noticeable in the case of very large systems composed of many individual modules.

The regulation of the brightness of an LED can be done by controlling the current through the LED or by pulse width modulation (PWM).

When controlling the brightness by changing the current through the LED, the color tone of the LED changes. In addition, the brightness can not be continuously reduced to zero because each LED needs a minimum current to glow.

Therefore, pulse width modulation (PWM) is preferred for controlling the brightness of the LEDs. This means that the LED is always operated with a brightness of 100%. The regulation takes place by periodically switching the LED on and off. The shorter the LED is turned on within a time unit, the lower the brightness. In order to avoid visible flickering of the LED in the camera image, the pulse is divided and individual or partial pulses are distributed uniformly over the duration of the original time window of the 100% pulse. The duration of the individual pulses is correspondingly shortened, so that the area of the individual pulses (energy) remains the same, ie equal to that of the 100% output pulse.

FIG. 2 a shows an exemplary embodiment of a virtual screen 30 with a virtual image and virtual display fields 32 and 34. The virtual screen 30 could, for example, be displayed on a monitor 10 a connected to the personal computer 10. In the virtual len screen 30, an image is shown, which is intended to be displayed by the connected to the personal computer 10 display fields 32, 34. A control software is installed on the personal computer 10. In a so-called framesetup (virtual screen), a user can display the image to be displayed on the display fields 32, 34 on the screen 10a of the PC 10.

The screen 30 reproduces to scale the positions and orientation of the actual display fields, the representation of the virtual display panel 34 indicating that the display panel corresponding to the virtual display panel 34 is rotated. The image shown in front of or with the virtual display fields 32 in FIG. 2a represents the word "G-LEC #" graphically. In FIG. 2b, in turn, the virtual screen is shown. In this case, however, only those areas of the lettering are shown which lie on one of the virtual display screens 32 and 34. The virtual screen 30 in

Fig. 2b thus reproduces true to scale how the lettering "G-LEC ,, would be represented by the display fields actually connected.

The display system described here is used to display animations, pictures or videos in real time. Any NTSC signal or DMX512 / 1990 can be used for this purpose. For the representation of pictures any file format can be processed. Played live videos, images and animations can be converted to 24-bit full-color using 2-layer technology.

RGB combined.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a display panel according to the invention. The display field is on the one hand in a front view 38, a side view tenansicht 40 and a top view and a bottom view 46 shown. The display panel in Fig. 3 comprises tubes made of polycarbonate. The lower, open end of these polycarbonate tubes is fixed in position with an aluminum bar. By built in the bottom of the display fan or fans 48 air flows through the tubes 38, whereby the LED driver and the electronics of the display panel is cooled.

Fans 48 are powered by electrical conductors 50 with energy. Two bars form the lateral frame 42 of the display panel and connect an overhead housing with a bottom aluminum rail. As a result, a self-contained stable display module is formed. At the lower end of each connecting rod is a

Quick release 44. At the upper end of the side frame 42, the matching to the quick release 44 counterpart connects 45. In Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the display panel 52 is shown.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a block diagram of the embodiment of the display system according to the invention. The display system includes a plurality of system controllers 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d in the form of personal computers. Each of the system controllers 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d is connected to a total of 12 display panels via respective data lines 58a, 58b, 58c and 58d and power supplies 60a, 60b, 60c and 6Od for power supply. The display panels 62a-l through 62a-12 are associated with the system controller 54a; the display fields 62b-l to 62b-12 are associated with the system controller 54b; the display fields 62c-l to 62c-12 are associated with the system controller 54c; the display fields 62d-l to 62d-12 are assigned to the system controller 54d. The individual system controllers 54a to 54d are connected via a line 56 synchronized with each other. In each case, 12 display fields are controlled by a system control.

The data transfer between the PC and the display is done with ^'a single RJ45 Cat5 cable. All other display fields are also connected to each other with an RJ45 cable. Any number of displays will be interconnected to a large system, each with its own 12-module control system is required. All PCs are synchronized with a sync box to avoid different signal delays. The synch box outputs a clocked signal over line 56 to each of the system controllers 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d. The system controls must be synchronized with each other, so that the control of the different display fields can be correlated with each other in time.

Fig. 6a shows an embodiment of an arrangement of the display panels according to the invention. To generate larger display areas, the individual display fields 68 have been put on top of each other. Reference numeral 70 denotes two recesses in the illustrated display panel arrangement. The individual display fields form except for the recesses 70 a rectangular display area. Fig. 6c shows the display panel arrangement as it could be attached to a wall. In one of the recesses 70, a construction rib 64 is attached. In order to suspend the display system ring nuts 69 are attached to the top display panels.

Fig. 6b shows two connecting bars 66 for connecting two display panels according to the invention. In a horizontal mounting or a rotated structure can also be attached to the quick coupling of the lower end of the connecting rod a ring nut. In order to realize the recesses 70 in the construction, the connecting rods 66 also be used individually. For horizontal connection of individual display panels 68 thin sheets between Sehne11kupplung and counterpart are inserted. Each display field is identically constructed and can be operated on its own. As a result, any size display surfaces can be built.

7a shows a sleeve 92. The connecting means according to the invention is a plug-in connection, wherein it is provided in FIG. 7a as a component for receiving a plug pin 90. The sleeve 92 has a plug receptacle 88. The plug 94 shown in Fig. 7b has a plug pin 90 which is intended to be inserted into the plug receptacle 88, whereby a plug connection between plug 94 and socket 92 is made. The plug 94 further includes an external hex 98, which can be rotated by means of a suitable key. The sleeve has a number of features that serve to lock the inserted pin 90: Specifically, the sleeve 92 includes a retaining ring and a locking ball 82. The pin 90 in turn has an annular projection 86.

Fig. 7c shows the sleeve and the plug in the assembled state. The pin 90 is inserted into the connector receptacle and the locking ball 82 is behind the projection 86. Thus, the locking ball prevents the pin 90 can automatically return from the connector receptacle 88. A sleeve 76 is located above the locking ball and ensures that the locking ball 82 is pressed onto the pin 90. The sleeve is movably mounted longitudinally along the sleeve 92. A spring 74 ensures that the sleeve 76 is above the locking ball. In addition, the sleeve is held by a retaining ring 84 in its position. To release the connector sleeve 76 is pushed against the spring force of the spring 74 to the rear of the connector receptacle until the sleeve is held by a locking ball 72 in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 7a. The locking ball 82 can now be moved in the radial direction away from the connector receptacle. Thereby the locking of the plug pin 90 is released, ^"because the detent does not engage more behind the annular projection 86. Within the receptacle 88 is a carriage 80 which is biased by a further spring 74th By means of the spring force, the carriage 80 pushes the plug pin 90 out of the receptacle.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the connecting means according to the invention. It is again a plug connection. Stekker 102 has a pin with an annular projection. A sleeve 104 has a plug receptacle 108. Within the plug receptacle retaining balls 110 are arranged, which are intended to lock the plug pin 106 in the Steckeraufnähme. The sleeve 104 additionally comprises a longitudinally movable sleeve 11 which can be locked by means of a safety ball 114. At the opposite end of the plug receptacle, the sleeve 104 has a ring nut. The plug 102 also has a ferrule 118 located on the opposite side of the plug pin 106.

9 shows an exploded view of the connecting means of FIG. 8. The plug comprises a threaded rod 142, an external hexagon 140 and a threaded pin 145 with a radial projection. The threaded pin 145 has a tip 146 which is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter of 8 mm. The pin 145 has also a projection 144 whose cross section has a diameter of 12 mm. The hexagon socket 140 has a diameter of about 17 mm.

The socket of the plug connection has an unlocking sleeve 134 with a diameter of 24 mm in cross section. The unlocking sleeve 134 has a securing groove 132. The sleeve also has a safety ball 136, which is intended to engage in the securing groove, so that the safety sleeve is locked on the sleeve. The sleeve further has a locking bar or a carriage 138, which is housed within a connector receptacle 139. The locking bar is biased by a spring 130 when the pin is housed in the receptacle.

Further, two locking balls 126 are provided which hold the plug pin 145 in the receptacle 139 by engaging behind the annular projection of the connector pin 145. The locking sleeve 134 is slipped over the plug receptacle 139 in the closed state. An outer coil spring 124 is biased and urges the sleeve 134 against a locking ring 128. The sleeve has an outer hexagon 122 so that it can be rotated with a suitable key. It is attached to the display panels by means of a threaded rod.

Fig. 10a shows an upper portion of the display panel according to the invention. The display panel comprises an electronics housing 150, in which a communication unit and a central processing unit are accommodated. These are about one

Bus line connected to other display fields. For this purpose, a plug connection 148 is provided in the upper area of the display panel. Visible in particular is the plug pin 148, which is intended to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle. The plug connection not only ensures the mechanical integrity of the display screens. The pin also provides an electrical connection. Further, connecting rod 152 is shown having an outer surface in the form of a hexagon. The connecting rod 152 forms the lateral end of the display panel. Display tubes 154 are arranged parallel to the connecting rod. Within the annunciator tubes, the LEDs are in the three basic colors red, green and blue, which are controlled by the CPU inside the electronics housing.

Fig. 10b shows a lower portion of the display panel according to the invention. Again, the connecting rod 152 of FIG. 10a and an adjacent display tube 154 are shown. In contrast to FIG. 10a, no electronics housing 150 is located in the lower area of the display panel. The display tubes are held in parallel by a simple rail. Further, located in the lower region of the connecting rod 152 no pin, but the lower frame 156 reinforces the attachment of the connecting rod, the counterpart to the connector pin - the sleeve 158 - has at the lower end.

Fig. IIa shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting means according to the invention in the open state. A pin 166 and an unlocking sleeve 160 are each shown in cross-section. Remotely four securing balls 162 are shown within the plug receptacle 164 of the sleeve 160. Fig. IIb shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting means of Fig. 10a in the closed state. The illustrated cross section of the plug pin is tapered in contrast to the cross section shown in Fig. IIa. For in Fig. IIa, the annular radial projection of the plug pin forms the region of the illustrated cross section. Augrund of the tapered cross-section in Fig. 10b, the locking balls 162 have penetrated through radial holes in the Steckeraufnähme 164 and engage behind the retaining ring of the connector pin. Thus, the pin is locked within the receptacle.

Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of a connecting rod for connecting the display panels according to the invention. The connecting rod has centrally a 957 mm long inner rod 176, whose outer cross section resembles a hexagon. The inner rod 176 is screwed by means of a threaded rod with a sleeve 170 of a connector according to the invention. For this purpose, internal threads 174 are provided inside the inner rod 176 and the sleeve 170. Likewise, a plug 168 of a connecting means according to the invention is attached to the opposite end of the inner rod 176. A threaded pin 178 is threaded into internal threads provided in the inner rod 176 and in the plug 168.

List of reference numbers:

10 personal computers.

12 Graphics Card 14 Data Bus (Cat 5 Cable)

16 Upper frame of the display panel

18 LED tube 1

20a red LEDs 20b green LEDs 20c blue LEDs

22 communication unit of the display panel 16

24 CPU of the display panel 16

26 connections for LED tubes 2 to 16

28 Bus line to the next display panel 30 Virtual screen

32 display fields in the virtual screen 30

34 Display field (rotated by 45 °) in the virtual screen 30

36 Display field 38 LED tube of the display panel 36

40 side view of the display panel 36th

42 Lateral frame of the display panel 36

44 quick release

45 Counterpart of the quick release 44 46 top view of the display panel 36

48 fans of the display panel 36

50 conductor of the display panel 36

52 perspective view of a display panel

54a personal computer 54b personal computer

54c personal computer

54d personal computer

56 Synchronization of the personal computers 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d 58a data line

58b data line

58c data line

58d data line 60a power supply

60b power supply

60c power supply

60ά power supply

62a bus line and 48 V power line 62b bus line and 48 V power line

62c bus line and 48 V power line

62d bus line and 48 V power line

62a-1 to 62a-12 display fields associated with PC 54a

62b-l through 62b-12 display fields associated with PC 54b 62c-l through 62c-12 display fields associated with PC 54c

62d-l to 62d-12 display fields associated with PC 54d

64 construction rib

66 connecting rods

68 Arrangement of display fields 69 Ring nuts

70 recess in display panel arrangement 68 72 ball

74 spring

76 sleeve 78 sleeve spring

80 cuff

82 ball

84 retaining ring

86 annular projection 88 Steckeraufnähme

90 pin

92 socket

94 plug

96 plug connection 98 hexagon socket

100 hexagon socket

102 plug

104 sleeve 106 connector pin

108 plug receptacle

110 safety ball

112 sleeve

114 safety ball 116 hexagon

118 ring nut

120 threaded rod

122 hexagon

124 External coil spring 126 Safety ball

128 circlip

130 inner spiral spring

132 securing groove

134 Unlocking sleeve 136 Locking ball for sleeve

138 locking bolt

140 hexagon

142 threaded rod

144 Connector pin 146 Tip of the connector pin

148 Quick-release connector

150 electronics housing

152 hex connection rod

154 Display Tubes 156 Lower frame of the display panel

158 sleeve of the quick release

160 unlocking sleeve

162 safety ball

164 plug receptacle 166 connector pin

168 Quick-release connector

170 sleeve of the quick release

172 threaded rod

174 female thread

176 hex connection rod

178 threaded rod

180 internal thread

Claims

claims

1. Display system with

- a plurality of display panels (32, 34, 36; 62a-l - 62d-12) each display panel (32, 34, 36; 62a-l - 62d-12) having a plurality of light-emitting elements (38),

- a system controller (10, 22) for driving the display panels (32, 34, 36; 62a-l - 62d-12), - characterized by

a data bus (14) connecting the system controller (10, 22) to each of the display panels (32, 34, 36).

2. Display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system controller (10, 22) and the display panels

(32, 34, 36, 62a-l-62d-12) are each connected to a single bus line 62a-62d).

3. Display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system control and the display fields (32, 34, 36;

62a-l-62d-12) are connected in series to one another by means of bus lines (62a-62d).

4. Display system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, character- ized in that the bus lines (62a - 62d) respectively

Twisfced-pair cables, in particular Cat-5 cables, are.

5. Display system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system controller (10, 22) as a bus master and the display fields (32, 34, 36, 62a-1 -

62d-12) each act as bus slaves of the data bus.

6. Display system according to claim 5, characterized in that the system controller (10, 22) are adapted to receive data serially in the form of data packets via the data bus (14) to a predetermined display field (32, 34, 36, 62a-1 - 62d-12), each data packet having a receiver address of the predetermined display field (32, 34, 36; 62a-l - 62d-12) and the display fields (32, 34, 36; 62a-l - 62d-12) are adapted to detect from the receiver address whether the data packet is addressed to them.

The display system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display system comprises a plurality of system controllers (10, 22), each having its own data bus (14) with a predetermined number of display panels (32, 34, 36, 62a -l - 62d-12) can be connected.

8. A display system according to claim 7, characterized by a synchronization device for synchronizing the system controls (10, 22).

A display system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system controller (10, 22) comprises and forms a representation of a positioning and orientation of the display panels (32, 34, 36, 62a-l-62d-12) in a coordinate system it is to calculate corresponding image information of each display panel (32, 34, 36, 62a-1 - 62d-12) for a virtual image (30) represented in the coordinate system.

A display system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display panels (32, 34, 36; 62a-1 - 62d-12) each comprise connection means (66, 68-148) adapted to control the display panel (66). 32, 34, 36, 62a-l - 62d-12) releasably attach to each other and connect the display panels (32, 34, 36, 62a-l - 62d-12) in series with each other.