US20170052520A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20170052520A1
Application number: US15/347,016
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Joel Petrocy; John A. Cappelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-09
Filing date: 2016-11-09
Publication date: 2017-02-23
Also published as: US20180017951A1; US9519278B2; US20150355610A1

Abstract

A monitoring and reporting system involves a master control unit; multiple geographically dispersed monitor units, each comprising a base unit including a self addressing radio controller repeater having at least a microcontroller, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a multi-band communications transceiver; multiple sensors, communicatively coupled to the base unit, including at least one motion, temperature, and electrical sensor; each of the monitor units self-addresses according to complex self-addressing and communicates with at least one other of the monitor units to collectively form an ad hoc network; at least a first of the monitor units operates as a repeater with respect to communications received from either or both (i) of a second of the monitor units located at an equipment location or (ii) the master control unit; and the second of the monitor units will take local readings and report at least one to the master control unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/299,129 and is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/299,113, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,202,397, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/299,105, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,074,742, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD

The present application relates to lighting displays and, more particularly, to signs capable of displaying graphics.

BACKGROUND

During the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, at the General Electric pavilion “Carousel of Progress”, they simulated the dream home of the future in an exhibit called, “The glories of today”. The dream home featured: a glass-enclosed and electrically heated patio; a central “weather-tron” cooling system (a predecessor to today's air conditioning); a kitchen that all but runs itself, with a dishwashing machine; a washer/dryer that actually folds up the clothes; a central home vacuum system; a TV with a hand control unit and the ability record video built in; and special broadcast where people would be learning Greek and Latin over the air (a predecessor to today's internet).

However, not only did the home have special appliances and features but they envisioned special lighting and display systems built right into the walls and windows that they simulated including: translucent walls that changed colors to set moods, entire walls that would evenly light up the room, and high tech windows that would show beautiful outdoor scenery, even if it was raining outside.

While many of the speculated special appliances and features are now in our modern homes (excluding the washer/dryer that also folds clothes), the passage of time has failed to achieve the house of the future related to lightweight, thin, uniform, wall lighting and large, thin, affordable, scenic windows.

Instead, over 50 years later, what the passage of time has brought us is not thin, light, affordable lighting, but instead, large print billboards that are being replaced by even larger and complicated graphical LED displays.

As a result, large screen graphical displays are becoming increasing popular. As they become increasingly popular, in order to standout, advertisers want bigger and bigger graphical displays. However, those displays are made up of individual frames so that, as the scale increases so do the number of frames and the time required to calibrate the frames. In addition, those frames must be serviced from either the front or the back and, given the size, often require a huge bucket truck to do so. In order to decrease calibration time, the frame sizes have been increased; however, this increases the cost of replacement parts and also requires additional wiring, adding significant weight. Another big factor to the use of larger frames becomes display thickness. Larger frames require bigger power supplies mounted directly behind them and these bigger power supplies not only force the display thickness to be bigger but also require additional space for cooling and maintenance, and in some cases forced air-cooling or air conditioning as well.

Simply scaling current sign technology makes the sign so heavy that it typically cannot be supported without either building an extensive external support structure or significantly affecting the quality of the display.

Therefore, there continues to be a need for lighting and graphical displays that do not suffer from one or more of: being limited in length or width, added display thickness, requiring extensive and/or extra wiring to meet power needs, requiring heat sinks or air conditioning to dissipate excess heat when the displays run at peak power, requiring service from either the front or the back, requiring complex lensing or tedious calibration in order to provide a uniform display, having excessive weight that requires adding extra support, being subject to localized effects of expansion and contraction and/or display density/resolution issues.

SUMMARY

Additional aspects may involve one or more of the foregoing combined with one or more of the following optional additional aspects: one of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units being the master control unit; at least one instruction set, sent by the master control unit to a particular control unit, via another control unit, for execution by the particular control unit; the base unit further including at least one of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a compass; at least one of the monitor units being battery powered; at least one of the monitor units being solar powered; at least one of the monitor units being powered by line power; at least some of the monitor units communicate with others using radio bubbles; one of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units operates as one or more of a master control unit, a slave control unit or a repeater based upon signals it receives and any other monitor units to which it is connected; one dimension of the address information includes a physical address; one dimension of the address information includes a generated self-address; the multi-band communications transceiver implements a network communication protocol; a cell phone communication chip set that allows the base unit to communicate with an other base unit via a cellular network; at least one instruction set sent by the master control unit, via a control unit, for execution by another control unit; and/or at least one of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units is: a part of a visual display, a geo stick, a part of a remote equipment shelter, or a part of a remote field pump.

Additional aspects may involve one or more of the foregoing combined with one or more of the following optional additional aspects: at least two of the dimensions of the array are orthogonal; the use of a wired or wireless channel; a mathematical manipulation of the self-address of the control unit based on other information that the control unit has access to such as its location (either actual or relative location); the self-address of the control unit is generated based on one or more of a mathematical function or lookup table using the information received; the information received includes one or more one or more of: physical location, relative location, coordinates obtained via GPS or similar technique, information obtained through the use of radio bubbles, or computational techniques; the computational technique can be a triangulation technique; the triangulation technique can include a Delaunay triangulation algorithm; the triangulation technique can involve multiple dimensions; or receiving a data stream and parsing specific records addressed to the control unit and generating a response based on those records.

These and other aspects described herein present in the claims result in features and/or can provide advantages over current technology.

The aspects, advantages and features described herein are a few of the many aspects, advantages and features available from representative embodiments and are presented only to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on equivalents to the claims. For instance, some of these aspects, advantages or features are mutually exclusive or contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some aspects, advantages are applicable to one aspect of the invention, and inapplicable to others. Thus, the elaborated aspects, features and advantages should not be considered dispositive in determining equivalence. Additional aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a front perspective view of one example implementation;

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of the lighting assembly ofFIG. 1, now mounted on a structure;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view respectively of the structure ofFIG. 2 onto which additional lighting assemblies fromFIG. 1 have been mounted;

FIGS. 4A-4B respectively illustrate, in simplified form, side views of adjacent ends of two printed circuit boards which would be installed, for example, in a tube as described herein, andFIG. 4C illustrates, in simplified form, a top view of the boards ofFIG. 4B;

FIGS. 5A-5B respectively illustrate, in simplified side view, two printed circuit boards that are similar to the

circuit boards

110a,110bofFIG. 4 but differ in that they have one or more optional physical connection receptacles at each end;

FIG. 5C illustrates, in simplified form, a front view of the boards ofFIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate, in simplified form, a side view, andFIG. 6C illustrates a front view, of boards which are similar to the boards ofFIGS. 5A-5C;

FIGS. 7A-7B are a front and side view, respectively, of a set of alternative variant lighting assembly implementations similar to the lighting assembly ofFIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of yet another alternative lighting assembly variant similar to the variant ofFIGS. 7A and 7B except that the tube ofFIG. 8 has a front face that is curved and optionally includes at least two corresponding pairs of board supports;

FIGS. 9A-9B are a front and side view, respectively, of still another alternative variant lighting assembly;

FIG. 10 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of the lighting assembly ofFIGS. 9A and 9B mounted to an underlying structure;

FIG. 11 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an additional variant implementation;

FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate, in simplified form, are a front and side view, respectively, of yet an additional variant implementation;

FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate, in simplified form, side views of two further alternative variant implementations;

FIG. 14 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an alternative variant to the variant ofFIG. 12B;

FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate, in simplified form, front and side views, respectively, of a further alternative variant;

FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate, in simplified form, a top and side view, respectively, of still another alternative implementation variant;

FIGS. 17A-17B illustrate, in simplified form, front and side views, respectively, of an additional alternative implementation variant;

FIG. 18 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of the variant ofFIG. 17B;

FIG. 19A illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of another alternative variant implementation;

FIG. 19B illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an alternative variant, andFIG. 19C illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of a second alternative variant;

FIG. 20 illustrates, in simplified form how undercuts and attachment extensions allow multiple lighting assemblies to be interconnected to accommodate an undulating underlying structure;

FIGS. 21A-21B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of a simple manner for sealing the ends of a tube from the elements;

FIGS. 22A-22D respectively illustrate, in simplified form, both a front and side view, respectively, of four different variant plugs that can be used as an alternative variant seal;

FIGS. 22E-22F respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view of the lighting assembly ofFIG. 9 with one of the plugs inserted into each of the ends of the tube;

FIGS. 22G-22H respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view of the lighting assembly ofFIG. 9 with the variant plug ofFIG. 22C inserted into one end of the tube and the plug variant ofFIG. 22D inserted into the other end of the tube;

FIGS. 23A-23D respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a side, front, back, and schematic representation of a series of printedcircuit boards2310 suitable for use as base units as described herein;

FIGS. 24A-24C illustrate an alternative variant to that shown inFIGS. 23B-23D;

FIGS. 25A-25C illustrate, in simplified form, a typical prior art fluorescent lighting configuration used to illuminate inventory in a typical store aisle;

FIGS. 26A-26C illustrate, in simplified form, a lighting assembly employing the teachings herein for illuminating the shelves of the typical store aisle ofFIG. 25A;

FIG. 27A-27D illustrate, in simplified form, end views of a few different configuration lighting fixtures that can be created using the teachings herein;

FIG. 28 illustrates, in simplified form, an example use for the lighting assembly ofFIG. 27D;

FIGS. 29A-29B illustrates, in simplified form, a representative example multi-curved vertical structure formed using multiple tubes constructed according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 30A illustrates, in simplified form, another example application employing the teachings herein;

FIGS. 30B-30C respectively illustrate, in greater detail, aspects of the signage or display ofFIG. 30A from the front and one side;

FIGS. 31A-31C illustrate, in simplified form, an edge and two front views, respectively, of multiple iterations of another variant type base unit;

FIG. 31D illustrates, in simplified form, an alternative lighting assembly incorporating the base units ofFIGS. 31A-31B;

FIGS. 32A-32B, illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of one example implementation of a lighting assembly;

FIGS. 33A-33C, illustrate, in simplified form, a representative example of an approach that incorporates solar cells into the louvers;

FIG. 34 illustrates, in simplified form, one example prior art attempt to make a uniform brightness lighting display using multiple fluorescent tubes;

FIGS. 35A-35C illustrate, in simplified form, a prior art alternative attempt to make a uniform lighting display using a standard display matrix;

FIGS. 36A-36B illustrate, in simplified form, a prior art attempt to make a uniform 10×50 element lighting display using a standard display matrix, such as the matrix ofFIG. 35B;

FIGS. 37A-37B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and right side view of a 10×50 lighting display constructed using the teachings contained herein;

FIG. 38 illustrates, in simplified form, a schematic of a 10×10 lighting display constructed using four of the standard display matrix units ofFIG. 35B;

FIGS. 39A-39C each illustrate a tube with different length base units having different numbers of luminaires that share a common set of power rails through which a transformer can supply power;

FIGS. 40A-40B illustrate, in simplified form, a self-addressing system as disclosed in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907;

FIGS. 41A-41B respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a wireless version of the self-addressing system, incorporated by reference, both without a feedback line and with a feedback line;

FIG. 42 illustrates, in simplified form, a schematic block representation of one representative example self-addressing radio controller repeater;

FIG. 43 illustrates, in simplified form, an arrangement of base units within a graphic display constructed according to the teachings herein;

FIGS. 44A-44F illustrate, in simplified form, a functional example of a sequence of actions making up one method of wireless self-addressing;

FIGS. 45A-45C illustrate, in simplified form, a functional example of a sequence of actions making up a method of independent wireless self-addressing;

FIGS. 46A-46D illustrate, in simplified form, the functional example of how a failed base unit in the independent wireless self-addressing configuration ofFIGS. 45A-45C can be determined and handled;

FIGS. 47A-47E illustrate, in simplified form, a representative example of a configuration of base units implementing multi-dimensional address reception;

FIGS. 48, 49, and 50A-50C illustrate, in simplified form, representative examples of how to use multi-dimensional addressing to self-address a display;

FIG. 50D illustrates, in simplified form, a lighting display that is, in all material structural, functional and operational respects, identical to the lighting display ofFIGS. 50A-50C except that power is supplied to each base unit through the use of solar cells;

FIG. 51A-51X illustrate, in simplified form, a basic overview of the Delaunay triangulation technique using a two-dimensional example;

FIGS. 52A-52B illustrate, in simplified form, a display constructed according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 53 illustrates, in simplified form multiple light strand-type lighting displays, constructed using tubes and the teachings described herein, hanging in front of a building;

FIG. 54A illustrates, in simplified form, multiple chip sets of a display that use wireless communication to establish their physical distance between one another and then use their relative location within the grid to self address;

FIG. 54B illustrates, in simplified form, how, by using self-addressing that inherently includes an address gap, positional changes can be accounted for;

FIGS. 55A-55D illustrate, in simplified form, image correction of a moving display constructed according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 56 illustrates, in simplified form, an example of a concert venue configured to take advantage of the teachings herein;

FIG. 57 which illustrates, in simplified form, an example application of complex self-addressing;

FIG. 58A-58C illustrate, in simplified form, an independent self-addressing “geo” stick configured for self-addressing, and communicating with a master control unit, according to teachings herein;

FIGS. 59A-59B illustrate, in simplified form, another example application for monitoring remote equipment according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 60 illustrates, in simplified form, yet another application of the teachings herein;

FIG. 61 illustrates, in simplified form, essentially a reversal of the process ofFIG. 61; and

FIG. 62 represents a restaurant and the coming together of many of the teachings herein and/or extensions thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The instant devices and approach provide a way to build large displays from multiple luminaires in different configurations that, depending upon the particular implementation, are lighter than their corresponding-sized counterparts, are more easily configured, more easily serviced, and, as size increases, retains its image quality relative to current conventional counterparts. In addition, various self-addressing approaches are described that allow for multiple luminaires or other devices to operate in a coordinated fashion without the need for establishing and setting an address for each based upon knowledge of other devices that will also be part of the coordinated operation.

Various implementations which may contain one or more inventions, as claimed, will now be described with reference to the figures in which the same reference numeral in different views indicates the same aspect.

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a front perspective view of one example implementation.Lighting Assembly1 is made up of atube100 having one ormore attachment extensions102 and multiple board supports104. Within thetranslucent tube100, there aremultiple base units110, typically, printed circuit boards and mounted on the printed circuit board base units110 s aremultiple luminaires120. Depending upon the particular type of luminaires used, the base units can merely be supporting structures for the luminaires with no electronic circuitry or wiring thereon at all, they can be supporting structures that carry physical wires or circuit boards of some type (e.g. multi-layer, multi-wire or printed). As used herein, the terms “base unit”, “circuit board”, and “printed circuit board” are intended to encompass all of these configurations interchangeably and have the meaning appropriate for the particular luminaires with which it is used. Theluminaires120 are lighting elements which, depending upon the particular implementation are made up of, for example, one or more individual light bulbs (incandescent, excited gas, halogen, fluorescent, electro-luminescent, or light emitting diodes (LEDs)), individual LEDs, LED arrays (single color or multiple color, including red/green/blue (“RGB”) arrays), along with their associated drive or power connections or electronics. Depending upon the particular implementation, some variant luminaires may be dimmable or have selectable/variable brightness. As a result, it should be understood that, with different variants, theluminaires120 can merely serve as lights or can act as individual pixels on a static or dynamic display.

Thetube100 is used to protect theluminaires120 from physical damage from the exterior and/or from the elements, depending upon where theLighting Assembly1 may be used. The board supports104 are used to constrain thecircuit boards110 in a fixed position within theLighting Assembly1 during use, and theattachment extensions102 are used to maintain a desired orientation and spacing between, in this configuration, thefront face130 of thetube100 and theluminaires120.

At least thefront face130 of thetube100 is translucent so that light emitted by theluminaires120 can be viewed from external to thetube100. Depending upon the particular implementation, for ease of manufacture, some implementations can be made so that more than just the face, right up to theentire tube100 is translucent. The translucent face of the tube100 (and some or all of theoverall tube100 itself) can be made of any translucent material, for example, glass, crystal, or translucent plastic such as an acrylic. Ideally, if an acrylic is used and theLighting Assembly1 will have significant exposure to ultraviolet (“UV”) light like from sunlight, it is desirable that the face (and possibly theentire tube100 have appropriate UV stability so as to not degrade to a detrimental extent from that UV exposure, which could diminish the light passing quality of the face and/or the structural integrity of thetube100. Other suitable plastic materials that can be used for some implementations include polycarbonate and polyethylene, the important aspect of thetube100 being the translucent nature and structural capability, rather than the particular material used for the tube. As shown in the implementation ofFIG. 1, theentire tube100 is translucent. Additionally, the body and/or face of thetube100 maybe clear, frosted, tinted or colored as desired. In the case where the front face and body are made of separate pieces, the body need not be translucent at all and could be made of a plastic, a metal or virtually any other material, the important aspect being that the part of the tube other than the front face needs to be large enough to accommodate one or more base units slidably inserted therein such that the luminaires will be properly positioned behind the front face and appropriate clearance is available for cooling or to allow for appropriate heat dissipation.

Depending upon the particular implementation and end use, and as is the case for thetranslucent tube100 ofFIG. 1, the body and/or front face of thetube100 can be manufactured as a continuous extrusion or formed using other methods such as machining, poured epoxy and/or 3-D printing, to name a few. In other cases, the face and body of thetube100 can be made using different processes and joined together thereafter using a joining technique appropriate to the particular materials. Advantageously, using continuous extrusion, tubes of almost any length can be readily manufactured.

In many cases,attachment extension102 and front face will be part of the continuous extrudedtranslucent tube100. Where this is the case for theattachment extension102, they may run the entire length of thetube100. However, in some cases and like the front face, theattachment extension102 can be created via a secondary processes such as machining, or may be created separately and then joined to the main part of thetube100, for example by gluing, melting, sonic welding, or any other joining technique suitable for the particular materials involved. Moreover, it should be understood that theattachment extension102 need not be uniform or even present along the entire length of the tube in some implementations. Rather, it can vary or be intermittently present so long as its attachment function is preserved.

As shown in the implementation ofFIG. 1, the board supports104 rotationally maintain the position of the plurality of printedcircuit boards110 within thetranslucent tube100 while still allowing the printedcircuit boards110 to move slidably so that they can be inserted and/or removed via the end of thetranslucent tube100.

The ability of the plurality of printedcircuit boards110 to move slidably and to be inserted and subsequently removed from the end of thetranslucent tube100 is an advantageous design feature. Traditional building mounted billboard displays must be serviced from either the front or the back of the display, which means either the display must be built out from the building façade, to allow access from the back, or, if it is to be serviced from the front, a bucket truck, gantry or carriage lowerable using davits must be available. Moreover, using a one of the variant approaches herein, digital billboards and wallscape displays can be created in sizes up to and beyond the largest common digital billboard size of 14′ high×48′ wide because each tube can readily exceed that width and/or height. Advantageously, being able to service such a display from the end of each tube potentially eliminates or reduces the need for such equipment and provides a more servicer-safe and/or more cost effective means of servicing the billboard display since, depending upon the orientation with which the tubes are mounted to create the billboard, they can be serviced from the top, bottom, or side(s).

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of thelighting assembly1 ofFIG. 1, now mounted on astructure200 using multiple attachment aids210. Notably, the specific configuration of thelighting assembly1 results in anattachment gap220, which will be described later. As shown, the attachment aids210 are depicted as screws. However, it should be understood that any standard attachment aids appropriate to the particular intended use andsupport200 to which it will be mounted can be used, such as, for example, bolts, rivets, clips, and/or adhesives, the important aspect being that the attachment aids210 provide an appropriate type and degree of attachment, not the type or character of the attachment aids210 used.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view respectively of thestructure200 ofFIG. 2 onto whichadditional lighting assemblies1 fromFIG. 1 have been mounted using attachment aids210.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, there is a single row of luminare pertube100. In some implementations, the width of thetube100 is specified such that, when mounted adjacent to anothertube100, the spacing320 betweenadjacent luminaires120 therein will advantageously be matched between theluminaires120 in onetube100 and the correspondingluminaires120 of eachadjacent tube100. In other words, the center-to-center distance320 established as “0” betweenluminaires120 within a giventube100 can also easily be established as a center-to-center distance315 of “0” betweenluminaires120 in twoadjacent tubes100 and advantageously producing a standard spacing unit. Once established this standard spacing unit can be used to produce a display that is uniformly spaced at this standard spacing unit, or at a greater spacing by simply increasing the center-to-center distance320 and creating acorresponding mounting gap310 such that the center-to-center distance315 will always be equal to the center-to-center distance320.

Additionally, in some implementations there is at least one row ofluminaire120 on the printedcircuit boards110 and the center-to-center distance315 of “0” betweenluminaires120 in twoadjacent tubes100 is optimized such that it the spacing between thenearest luminaire120 inadjacent tubes100 is minimized. In some cases, this may involve adding additional rows ofluminaires120. Once the optimally minimized spacing between adjacent tubes is established, for uniformity, the center-to-center distance320 betweenluminaire120 within atube100 is set so that it is equal to the optimized center-to-center distance315 between the adjacent tubes. In other words, the maximum uniform density ofluminaires120 for a display is created by minimizing the center-to-center distance315 between the nearest theluminaires120 inadjacent tubes100. One of the advantages of creating a maximum uniform density ofluminaire120 is that higher resolution displays can be created. An additional advantage is that, as the density of the luminaires is increased, the power that theluminaires120 are run at can be reduced, while still producing the same display brightness. The ability to run theluminaires120 at reduced power is advantageous because a reduction in power generally translates to, for example, reduced energy cost, reduced heat generation (potentially reducing or eliminating the need for ancillary cooling measures and/or equipment and heat-related degradation, failures and maintenance, again saving cost), and also it can significantly prolong bulb life which may likewise translate into reduced service requirements and cost savings.

As can now be seen inFIG. 3,attachment gap220 advantageously provides a space for, and can obscure, the attachment aids210 of theadjacent tube100. Thus, due to fact thatattachment gap220 exists, it is possible to minimize thespacing310 betweentubes100 to match the in-tube100 spacing Ø betweenadjacent luminaires120 and allows for use of techniques such as the edge-butting technique shown. An additional advantage that can be achieved by some implementations of this approach is that the center-to-center distance between luminaires ofadjacent tubes120 resulting from accommodating the size of eachluminaire120 within atube120 can be minimized and used to establish the inter-luminaire120 spacing within eachtube120. An advantageous byproduct of this approach is that a denser/richer display can be created than can be created conventionally. A further advantage of this approach, as well as others that will be discussed, is that the way it can be mounted allows for an unobstructed view through the front face of the tube.

FIGS. 4A-4B respectively illustrate, in simplified form, side views of adjacent ends420,430 of two printed

circuit boards

110a,110b, which would be installed, for example, in a tube as described herein, such as thetube100 ofFIG. 1. As shown, theend420 of one printedcircuit board110acontains anelectrical connector400 and theend430 of the other adjacent printedcircuit board110bcontains a correspondingly matingelectrical connector410. The

connectors

400 and410 provide electrical (and optionally optical and/or other forms of) connectivity between the

adjacent circuit boards

110a,110bto allow for passage of, for example, address and data signals and power therebetween.FIG. 4A shows these two

circuit boards

110a,110bimmediately before they are connected to each other andFIG. 4B shows the

same boards

110a,110bafter they have been connected to each other by mating the

connectors

400,410.FIG. 4C illustrates, in simplified form, a top view of the

boards

110a,110bofFIG. 4B (i.e. after they have been connected together using theconnectors400,410).

As shown inFIG. 4A, theconnector400 is a female connector and theconnector410 is a male connector. Of course, it should be recognized that this is not critical. Just as readily, theconnector400 could have been a male connector and theconnector410 could have matingly then been a female connector. Moreover, it should be understood that the

boards

110a,110bneed not be connected by mating connectors or physical inter-connectors at all. The

boards

110a,110bcould be connected by any other approach or technique that allows for electrical board-to-board interconnection. For example, with some implementations, the boards could be connected for signal passage purposes, using capacitive or inductive coupling, and maintained in proximity by the board sizing or, for example, one or more appropriate sized magnets on theend420 of onecircuit board110aand one or more opposite poles of similarly sized magnets on theopposite end430 of theadjacent board110b. Likewise, signals can be passed and/or the boards could be connected for signal passage purposes, by any other types of connections including those used to pass optical signals.

Indeed, throughout the description herein, it is to be understood that any reference to a wired connection or signal passage should be understood to encompass any type of connection over which such power or signals can be passed, which shall include, but not be limited to optical signals via air or optical fiber, and any way used to pass signals, including using any wavelength signal in the electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for the application and any transmission medium or media.

One advantage to the use of female and

male connectors

400,410 is that they not only provide an electrical interconnection between the printed

circuit boards

110a,110bbut also concurrently provide a mechanical connection between them as well.

At this point, it should be understood that the terms “male” and “female” used in conjunction with reference to connectors are not intended to represent a specific connector configuration, but rather are merely used to specify a general class of connectors in which mating parts are joined together such that at least a portion of one is constrained within at least a portion of another.

One advantage to providing a mechanical connection between the printed

circuit boards

110a,110b, whether or not it is integral with the electrical connection between

boards

110a,110b, is that the

boards

110a,110bare able to expand and contract as a unit and therefore still maintain uniform board-to-board spacing. This highlights a further advantage that can be achieved by using board supports104 that are channel-shaped as inFIG. 1. By using channel-shaped board supports104, the printed

circuit boards

110a,110bare not constrained in their longitudinal direction, so they are able to move slidably, both when inserted into thetube100 and during expansion and contraction. This is a valuable advantage because current display approaches produce localized distortions due to non-uniform expansion and contraction. Additionally, the under board placement of the

connectors

400,410 shown and afforded by this approach allows for full engagement of the

connectors

400,410 that minimizes or eliminates any visible gap between the

boards

110a,110b, which can help approach or obtain maximum optical balance, regardless of how many boards or are inserted into a giventube100. A further valuable advantage to this approach is that it minimizes or eliminates the dark shadows normally present with standard display units and, in particular, those requiring heat sinks.FIGS. 5A-5B respectively illustrate, in simplified side view, two printedcircuit boards110a′,110b′ that are similar to the

circuit boards

110a,110bofFIG. 4 but differ in that they have one or more optionalphysical connection receptacles500 at each end. These optionalphysical connection receptacles500 provide for an alternative or additional way of mechanically connecting the twocircuit boards110a′,110b′ when, for example either, the electrical connectors do not provide any or adequate mechanical connection between boards, for example, when using capacitive or inductive coupling, or wire connections such as wiring harnesses and flexible circuit connections. Alternatively, thereceptacles500 can be electrically wired so that, in addition to forming a mechanical connection between adjacent boards, with a suitable conductive clip or jumper, they can be used to transfer power or signals from board to board instead of, or in addition to, any electrical connector that might be used.

FIG. 5A shows these boards pre-connection andFIG. 5B shows these boards post-connection.FIG. 5C illustrates, in simplified form, a front view of theboards110a′,110b′ ofFIGS. 5A and 5B. As shown inFIGS. 5B and 5C, the mechanical connection between theboards110a′,110b′ is provided by awire tie510 inserted through areceptacle500 on two adjacent boards and tightened until the desired degree of spacing and rigidity of connection is achieved.FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate, in simplified form, a side view, andFIG. 6C illustrates a front view, of

boards

110c,110d, which are similar to theboards110a′,110b′ ofFIGS. 5A-5C, but these

boards

110c,110dhave two ormore receptacles500′ in each board and the

boards

110c,110dofFIGS. 6A and 6B are connected with a “U”-shaped clip orconnector610 that can be inserted into two or more of the holes on oneboard110cand, correspondingly, two or more holes on anadjacent board110dto physically hold the two together.

It is important to note at this point that the particular type of mechanical interconnection, if any, used is not critical to the operation or understanding of the instant approach. Thewire tie510 and “U”-shaped clip orconnector610 are intended to merely be representative of some type of secondary mechanical connector that may be used to provide a physical board-to-board connection, and other forms of secondary mechanical board-to-board connections can likewise be used, such as a hinged connections, hook and eye connections, spring clips, and even a slot into which a part of an adjacent circuit board can be inserted and maintained with a locking tab or catch. Moreover, although the

receptacles

500,500′ have been shown as round holes, depending upon the particular interconnection, the

receptacles

500,500′ could have any shape, circular, oval, slotted, rectangular, triangular, regular or complex, and, in some implementations, they might not be present at all, for example, slot/tab or slot/catch approach or by providing one or more posts on each circuit board that can be coupled together by one or more bands, clips, etc. Likewise, any number of receptacles can be used, from one to as many as would reasonably fit and be needed to accomplish the desired joinder of the two boards for a particular use.

The use of a mechanical connection between adjacent boards allows for simplified serviceability from, for example, the side of the display, particularly when the display is made up of many multi-luminaire boards within eachindividual tube110 thus eliminating the need to deploy bucket trucks or cranes to service the display of luminaires, irrespective of the length of an individual tube and the number of boards longitudinally contained therein. Alternately, in some implementations that do not include mechanical connection between boards, it may not be possible to pull the boards out for service from one end of a tube. Advantageously, in many cases, advantages achieved by the instant approach are not lost, although it may be necessary to push the boards from one end of a tube to cause them to slide out the opposite end to service them using some form of pole or other auxiliary means.

FIGS. 7A-7B are a front and side view, respectively, of a set of alternative variant lighting assembly implementations similar to thelighting assembly1 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B except that, as shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, thelighting assembly7 lacksattachment extension102 andattachment gap220. Instead,tube700 ofFIGS. 7A and 7B have one or morealternative attachment extensions702 configured to allow attachment of thetube700 to structuresupport hardware750. In all other respects, thetube700 and thetube100 can be formed in the same manner. Note here that, as withtube100, thefront face730 is shown as flat. This is merely for simplicity of explanation. As will be seen below, and should be understood, the particular shape used for the translucent front face is irrelevant, it could advantageously therefore be flat, curved, undulating, concave, convex, etc. or any other shape as desired or dictated by other factors such as the particular intended use, manufacturability, the internal components, the material(s) being used, cost, etc.

Returning toFIGS. 7A and 7B, in contrast to thelighting assembly1 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B, rather than mounting directly to a supporting structure by attachment extensions, thetube700 is indirectly attached to a supportingstructure704 viastructure support hardware750. In this regard, thelighting assembly7 includesattachment extensions702 on thetube700 that are configured to connect to thestructure support hardware750 after thestructure support hardware750 has first been attached to anunderlying structure704 by, in the particular implementation shown, snapping thetube700 into place using theattachment extensions702. Advantageously, thestructure support hardware750, being separate from thetube700, can be made of any appropriate material, can be longer of shorter than the corresponding tube(s)700 with which it/they will be used, designed to be affixed to anunderlying structure704 by any affixation approach appropriate to the particular use including, for example, screws, bolts, nails, hooks, clips, adhesive, channels formed in the underlying structure, etc. Additionally, thestructure support hardware750 may further be designed with corresponding straight or mating edges so that rows of thestructure support hardware750 can be installed such that they butt against one another to thereby automatically act as a form of display registration for row oftubes700 by ensuring a known and/or pre-established spacing between successive rows. A further advantage to using a configuration ofattachment extensions702 andstructure support hardware750 such as shown, is that it allows thetubes700 to be installed directly from the front or, in some cases, longitudinally, by engaging the two at one end and sliding one of the tubes relative to the other in a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 8 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of yet anotheralternative lighting assembly8 variant similar to the variant ofFIGS. 7A and 7B except that thetube800 ofFIG. 8 has afront face802 that is curved and optionally includes at least two corresponding pairs of board supports104′ that allow the printedcircuit boards110 containing theluminaires120 to be inserted therein in a stable manner as described above. The optional different pairs of board supports104′ also advantageously allows the printedcircuit boards110 to be inserted into atube800, ordifferent tubes800, at different orientations relative to theunderlying structure704, thereby providing an easy way to produce differing viewing angles860,870, and880 either within atube800 and/or between rows of tubes800-1,800-2,800-3. At this point, it should be noted that, most implementations will include multiple pairs of opposing board supports, with each pair of board supports104′ will be oriented within the tube such that they run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. However, this is not a requirement. With some implementation variants, one side of the tube may have multiple board supports while the opposite side will have, for example, a lesser number or even a single board support that can accommodate different tilt angles of an inserted base unit inserted into any one or more of the multiple board supports on the opposite side. Likewise, with some implementation variants, it may be desirable to form board supports within a given tube at an angle relative to the tube's longitudinal axis. In this manner, for example, tubes of a display can be mounted on the wall (or ceiling) of a hallway parallel to the wall (or ceiling) for aesthetics, but the displays within the tube can be angled for better viewing by persons traversing the hallway.

The ability to adjust viewing angle is advantageous and particularly useful as displays get larger and larger because, due to the optical characteristics, it may be very desirable to adjust the viewing angle so that it is optimized along some or all of the length and/or height to avoid a phenomena known as “display wash-out”, in which a viewer is unable to clearly see the edges of a display.

FIGS. 9A-9B are a front and side view, respectively, of still another alternativevariant lighting assembly9 similar to those discussed above made up of atube900 having one ormore attachment extensions902 configured to attach to structuresupport hardware950 that, like thestructure support hardware750 can be separately attached to anunderlying structure704. However, as shown, theattachment extensions902 are configured to slidably engage a corresponding portion of thestructure support hardware950 using, for example, a longitudinal tab on one and a longitudinal channel on the other or vice versa. As with the configuration ofFIGS. 7A and 7B, this configuration allows for installation of atube900 by longitudinally sliding it onto thestructure support hardware950 from an end, but it does not allow for insertion or removal from the front.

Likewise, with this variant, thestructure support hardware950 is configured to butt against each other for purposes of registration as withFIG. 7B andFIG. 8.

Up to now, with each of the variants, the

structure support hardware

750,950 has been configured such that the orientation of the respective tube(s) would be generally parallel to theunderlying structure704. However, it should be understood that this need not be the case. For example, thetube100 ofFIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B could have been formed at an angle that allowed thetube100 to be attached to anunderlying structure200 while orienting an inserted printed circuit board at an angle to thatstructure200, either longitudinally, orthogonally or in some combination thereof.

FIG. 10 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of thelighting assembly9 ofFIGS. 9A and 9B mounted to anunderlying structure704 by alternative variantstructure support hardware950′ that is similar to structuresupport hardware950 except, rather than mounting alighting assembly9 parallel to theunderlying structure704, the variantstructure support hardware950′ ofFIG. 10 allows thetubes900 to be mounted at an angle offset from parallel to the surface of theunderlying structure704. Thus, it should be understood that this variant configuration could be used as an alternate way of preventing “display wash-out” because, by varying the dimensions of thestructure support hardware950′ various orientation angles for theboards110 can likewise be produced.

In contrast with thestructure support hardware950 ofFIG. 9, as can be seen inFIG. 10, successive rows ofstructure support hardware950′ may not be able to be abutted against each other, resulting in, for example, mounting

gaps

1010,1020,1030. In this particular case, as shown inFIG. 10 the mounting

gaps

1010,1020,1030 are due to interference betweentubes900 ofsuccessive lighting assemblies9. In this particular case, registration can also be accomplished by using a spacer1040 (only one of which is shown) of appropriate size that can be temporarily or permanently inserted between adjacentstructure support hardware950′ units to establish proper spacing between them and, consequently the rows oftubes900. Advantageously, in this way, by using the same or different sized spacers within the

gaps

1010,1020,1030 issues like display washout can be addressed for a particular location or configuration without requiring manufacturing of different size or shape structure support hardware. Similarly, with some variants, spacers can be integrally formed on the structure support hardware, although that provides less flexibility than separate spacers allow. As an intermediate approach, different protruding tabs can be separately formed on the external surface of the structure support hardware as spacers such that an installer can have the option among different standard spacings by merely removing the tabs for the undesired spacing. Moreover, for installer convenience, a set of standard separate spacers could be made available as a tool along with a short length of untabbed structure support hardware to allow an installer to determine the desired spacing prior to removing any tabs from the actual structure support hardware to be installed.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an additional variant implementation. As shown inFIG. 11, thelighting assembly11 is made of atranslucent face1104 of atube1100 configured to accept abase unit110 having one ormore luminaires120 thereon longitudinally inserted therein. Thetube1100 further includes one or morevariant attachment extensions1102 that are configured to matingly couple to alternative variantstructure support hardware1105.

As shown, theattachment extension1102 is configured as a cog with an exterior surface having knurling, protrusions, rounded bumps or teeth thereon. Thestructure support hardware1105 is configured with a mating formation on its inner surface such that theattachment extension1102 part of thetube1100 can be slid intostructure support hardware1105 at any one of various orientations. In a slightly different variant of this particular configuration, the attachment extension and structure support hardware could be configured using a “ball and socket” type design as well. Alternately, with some implementation theattachment extension1102 may be pressed into place in thestructure support hardware1105 from the front, if thestructure hardware1105 is sufficiently flexible and resilient to allow doing so. Likewise, if the support structure hardware is appropriately flexible and resilient, this variant can allow for thetube1105 to be attached to theunderlying structure704 in one position and later be replaced, or reoriented to a different position, at a later time without altering the position of the support structure hardware. Additionally, depending upon the particular implementation, with some variants, the positioning and fit between the two can be merely maintained by their geometry and/or friction, with other variants, positioning and fit may involve use of some form of known pinning, locking or clamping mechanism, the important aspect being that the attachment extension and structure support hardware, in combination, allow for variability of placement of thetube1100 even after the structure support hardware has been mounted to a supporting surface.

As should now be appreciatedFIGS. 8, 10, and 11 represent a few example techniques by which the same luminaires can easily be oriented at any of various different viewing angles through use of different configuration tubes or tube-mounting hardware. However, it should be understood that, by no means are they the only way that such angles can be achieved. For example, varying the angle of the luminaire and/or its mounting on a base unit may be used as well, as can changing the placement of a single set of board supports within the tube.

FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate, in simplified form, are a front and side view, respectively, of yet an additional variant implementation in which alighting assembly12, comprised of one ormore luminaire120 and its associatedbase unit110 are housed in an associated translucent-faced tube1200. With this variant, thetube1200 further includes two or

more attachment extensions

902,1203, and1205 located on different parts of the tube.

As shown, thetubes1200 ofFIG. 12B are configured with one set ofattachment extensions902 that can be used to attach that tube to anunderlying structure704 by, for example, thestructure support hardware950 ofFIG. 9B.

Advantageously, with this variant, subsequent adjacent rows need not connect to theunderlying structure704 by their own structure support hardware, they can be interconnected to an adjacent tube using one of

attachment extensions

1203 and1205. In this particular case,attachment extensions902 andstructure hardware950 are illustrated as a round bar and cylindrical sleeve that allows the bar on one tube to be longitudinally slid into the sleeve of another tube, but it should be understood they are simply representative of one particular type of attachment extension pairing that can be used to indirectly attach a tube to anunderlying structure704. It should be understood and appreciated that any form of mating geometry that allows for longitudinal sliding attachment can be used. Likewise, with some variants of this configuration, the attachment extensions can be configured such that they can be matingly connected from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, for example, in the case ofFIG. 12B, from the bottom in a snap-in-place manner or from the front, using, for example, a hook and catch, interlocking hanging channels or other hanger mechanisms. However, it should be noted that where such hanging type connection is to be used, the attachment extensions must be configured such that they can support the weight of whatever number of tubes will hang form them. In this regard, it should be noted that one way to mitigate the need for overly large attachment extensions which, for some intended uses, might result in detrimentally large spacing between tubes, is through use of a hybrid combination in which a first tube is attached to an underlying structure by structure support hardware, and one or more tubes are suspended directly or indirectly from that first tube until a certain number of tubes have been attached, at which point new structure support hardware is attached to the underlying structure and the next tube is connected to both the structure support hardware and the adjacent suspended tube above it using the attachment extensions as well. Advantageously, in this manner, the weight can be managed and the tubes can be stabilized from potentially swinging into the underlying structure.

As further advantage to the type of variant approach ofFIGS. 12A and 12B is that this approach allows a degree of articulation at the interconnection, so that for example, partially or completely assembled displays of these lighting assemblies can be rolled up for ease of transportation and installation at a desired location.

Again, it bears repeating that, with some implementations, using the

attachment extensions

1203 and1205, a mountinggap1210 is produced between the twoadjacent lighting assemblies12. Advantageously, since it is desirable to minimize the center-to-center spacing Ø betweenluminaires120 in adjacent tubes, once that minimum distance is established, board units withluminaires120 spaced apart on a given board and/or between boards at the same center-to-center spacing Ø can be used.

FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate, in simplified form, side views of two further alternative variant implementations. InFIG. 13A, thelighting assembly13 is made up ofluminaires120 mounted on a printedcircuit board110 that is inserted in an associated translucent-faced tube1300 that is oval in shape. As inFIG. 8, thetube1300 includes multiple board supports1304 that allow for the printed circuit board to be oriented in a variety of angles within thetube1300. As withFIGS. 12A and 12B, this variant configuration tube includesattachment extensions1203′,1205′ that allow for direct connection of adjacent tubes to each other, and anattachment extension1302 configured for connecting thetube1300 to anunderlying structure704 bystructure support hardware950 such as described above.

FIG. 13B is identical toFIG. 13A except, since, in some applications, the oval configuration allows external light to enter from a variety of angles, which for some implementations can result in undesirable glare. Thetube1300′ ofFIG. 13B includes alouver1390 to block the light from certain directions while allowing the luminaire to still be viewed from the desired direction. Advantageously, the addition of a louver can involve using a separately louver that can be, for example, attached to thetube1300′, attached to anattachment extension1203′,1205′ or it can be co-extruded with the tube. As shown, thelouver1390 is a co-extruded louver.

Co-extrusion is the process of combining different materials simultaneously (or different colors of the same material) into a single part. Co-extrusion utilizes two or more extruders to melt and deliver a steady volume of different viscous plastics to a single extrusion head (die), which will extrude the materials in the desired form as a single part. The thicknesses of each material in the combined part are controlled by the relative speeds and sizes of the individual extruders delivering the materials.

The use of co-extrusion can be advantageous when the tube is to be a translucent tube, because through co-extrusion, a translucent material can be used for the tube while an opaque material is co-extruded as the louver. A further advantage to the configuration ofFIG. 13B is that, not only do louvers block light from entering the display, louvers prevent “light pollution”. Thus, the louvers will not only prevent reflected light from bouncing off the translucent tube, potentially causing glare to those opposite and above the display, they can also prevent the display light from being projected upward, avoiding a common complaint from people living in floors opposite and above a lighting display.

FIG. 14 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an alternative variant identical to the variant ofFIG. 12B except that theattachment extensions1407 and1408 are matching hooks.

Thus, it should now be appreciated that the tube-to-tube interconnections displayed inFIGS. 12 through 14 are representative of a class of interconnections, namely a class that allows a degree of articulation between adjacent lighting assemblies to advantageous effect. However, it should also be appreciated that the advantageous articulation is optional and other non-articulating configurations such as a dovetail joint and tongue and groove joints, snap fasteners or other solid mechanical connections can equally be used.

FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate, in simplified form, front and side views, respectively, of a further alternative variant that is identical to the variant ofFIGS. 12A and 12B except that thetube1200 includes an optionaldetachable louver1502 andlouver attachment1504. As shown, thedetachable louver1502 andlouver attachment1504 are shown as a cylinder and socket type connection, which would advantageously allow detachable louver1592 to be snapped into place and articulated through an angular arc “θ”. However, other configuration such as, for example, a dovetail joint or tongue and groove joint, as well as a configuration where thelouver1502 andlouver attachment1504 are formed as a unitary piece can also be used, as can (as noted above) a louver that is formed as part of thetube1200.

FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate, in simplified form, a top and side view, respectively, of still another alternative implementation variant wherein thelighting assembly16 similar to thelighting assembly15 ofFIGS. 15A and 15B except that each inserted printedcircuit board1610 includes multiple rows of two ormore luminaires1620, in this specific example, two rows of at least six luminaires per row. Additionally, in order to block external overhead light, eachtube1600 includeslouvers1690, in this example, one for each row ofluminaires1620.

FIGS. 17A-17B illustrate, in simplified form, front and side views, respectively, of an additional alternative implementation variant. With this variant, thelighting assembly17 is similar to thelighting assembly16 in that it includes a printedcircuit board1610 with rows ofluminaires1620 an associatedtube1700 having

attachment extensions

1703,1705. With this variant however, there are two rows ofopaque louvers1790 co-extruded with two planar translucent front faces1780. Since the expected viewing angle relative to the verticalunderlying support704 is “β” plus 90 degrees, the translucent front faces are formed so that they are canted1785 at about the same angle of β such that the two planar translucent front faces1780 are about perpendicular to the expected viewing angle. Alternately, when the expected viewing angle is perpendicular to the mounting surface and a viewer may have a lighting source associated with them, such as an individual driving a car with their headlights turned on, then canting the translucent front faces1785 at an angle of β can advantageously direct reflected light away from the viewer, while still allowing the viewer to view the display.

Similar to

attachment extensions

1203,1205 ofFIG. 12B,attachment extension1703 is of cylindrical design and mates with matchingattachment extension1705, which is a designed as a socket thus allowing a degree of articulation at the interconnection. However,

attachment

1703 and1705 are offset such that the gap produced when twoadjacent lighting assemblies17 are interconnected using the

attachment extensions

1703,1705 can be minimized.

Again, it is worth noting that, by minimizing the mountinggap1710, the subsequent center-to-center distance1715 between the twoclosest luminaires1620 inadjacent tubes1700 is also minimized. When there are at least two rows of luminaires, then in order to produce a display where theluminaires1620 are uniformly spaced at the center-to-center distance1718 of “Ø” between rows, the center-to-center distance1715 of “Ø between theclosest luminaires1620 in adjacent tubes and the center-to-center distance1720 of “Ø” between theluminaires1620 within a row all need to be equal.

FIG. 18 illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of the variant ofFIG. 17B showing the advantageous articulation of thelighting assembly17 made possible by the particular type of

attachment extensions

1703,1705 such that it can be put together, in whole or part, away from the installation site and rolled up in order to aide in transportation to the installation site and speed up installation. Likewise, it is to be understood that the articulation ability of some variants also makes it possible to more easily connect the lighting display to some curved surfaces.

FIG. 19A illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of another alternative variant implementation similar to those previously described except that it provides additional space underneath the board, thereby allowing for greater air circulation, which results in greater heat dissipation and reduced expansion and contraction pinching. Additionally, it has optionally also been designed with a shape such that it can roll both inward and outward, as seen inFIG. 20, while still allowing the mounting

gaps

1910,1910′ to be minimized. Advantageously, the ability to roll both inward and outward allows for installation on an undulating surface.

With the variant ofFIG. 19A, as shown, theattachment extensions1902 allow thelighting assembly19 to engage a mounting element, shown inFIG. 19A as ascrew1908, although any known mounting element that can engage theparticular attachment extensions1902 and removably affix it to theunderlying support704 can be substituted or used. Alternatively, in some cases, an adhesive material, like construction adhesive or epoxy, can be substituted and used to attach theattachment extensions1902 to theunderlying support704. Alternatively, in some cases, an adhesive material, like construction adhesive or epoxy, can be used to directly attach thestructure support hardware1902 to theunderlying support704, but that would result in permanent affixation of thelighting assembly19 to theunderlying support704.

FIG. 19B illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of an alternativevariant lighting assembly19′ that is similar to thelighting assembly19 variant ofFIG. 19 except that theattachment extension1902 ofFIG. 19A is replaced by aninternal cavity1905 that reduces theadditional space1904, but consequently can reduce the overall thickness of the lighting assembly from a firstoverall thickness1920 for thelighting assembly19 ofFIG. 19A to a reducedoverall thickness1920″ for thelighting assembly19′ ofFIG. 19B.

FIG. 19C illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of a second alternative variant of thelighting assembly19 ofFIG. 19A.

With this variant, thelighting assembly19″ is similar to thelighting assembly19′ ofFIG. 19B; however, the geometry of theinternal cavity1912 in this figure is slightly different from that of theinternal cavity1905 ofFIG. 19B, in that is designed to snap onto a type of separatestructure support hardware1950 rather than slide in place, which is particularly desirable as display length increases. As a result, of the addition of this type ofstructure support hardware1950 results in anoverall thickness1920″ that is greater than thethickness1920′ ofFIG. 19B but still less than thethickness1920 ofFIG. 19A.

In addition, as shown, with this configuration variant, thestructure support hardware1950 could be formed in asingle row configuration1916 or as a structure support hardware unit1918 to which multiple rows oftubes1900″ can be attached.

At this point, it should be understood that, in many cases, the previously described

structure support hardware

750,950,950′,1105, could also be straightforwardly manufactured as a unit that accepts multiple rows of tubes.

While

lighting assemblies

19,19′, and19″ are all designed to interconnect together as a form of display registration, advantageously, the single rowhardware support structure1950 can be designed such that display registration is accomplished by edge butting successivehardware support structures1950 together as can be seen in, for example,FIGS. 7B, 8, 9B, and 11.

FIG. 20 illustrates, in simplified form, howundercuts1906 and

attachment extensions

1703,1705 allow multiple lighting assemblies to be interconnected to accommodate an undulatingunderlying structure2002, the undulating shape of which has been exaggerated inFIG. 20 to highlight this advantage.

Thus, it should now be understood that, incorporating undercuts into any of the variants described herein may provide a similar advantage for some applications, irrespective of whether attachment extensions near the translucent front face are used.

As noted above, one of the advantageous features of some implementations is the element impervious nature of some variant tubes along their length. For many applications, it may optionally be similarly desirable to ensure that the ends of the tubes are also sealed from the elements in some manner.

FIGS. 21A-21B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of a simple manner for sealing the ends of a tube from the elements. For purposes of example only, this approach is described with reference to thelighting assembly9 ofFIG. 9, however it should be understood that this sealing approach, as well as other sealing approaches described herein are equally applicable to all the described variants, as well a permutations and combinations thereof. In this regard,FIGS. 21A and 21B show a sealing approach that, depending upon the particular sealing material may result in permanent sealing of a tube, potentially rendering service of the tube from such a sealed end thereafter impossible. With this sealing approach, at least one end of thetube900 is filled with afill material2130, which has the appropriate properties needed to impede or keep undesired matter from entering the tube, permanently or temporarily. Depending upon the particular implementation, thefill material2130 can be a potting material, a putty, a viscous conformal coating material, a silicone rubber, an expanding foam, a curable material like an epoxy or other curable resin or sealant, etc. Thus, it should be understood that the particular material used is not important, what is important is that the material be selected such that, for the particular application, it does not allow undesirable material (e.g. external air, moisture, dust, bugs, animals, etc.) to enter the tube.

As shown inFIG. 21A, both ends of thetube900 have been filled with afill2130 that was applied using afill applicator2131 such that the ends are completely sealed, in the case where thefill2130 was a curable epoxy in a permanent manner, with, as also shown inFIG. 21B, only a conduit, wire or cable2100 (to allow, for example, power or signals to be provided to thebase unit110 and/or luminaires120), being allowed to pass through the seal created by thefill2130. Alternatively, if for example, thefill2130 was a non-hardening putty, a similar but more temporary seal would be created, allowing thebase unit110 to potentially be removed by removing thefill2130 to provide access. Notably, a common characteristic of all of these end-sealing approaches is the use of a material that can conform to the shape of the tube in application. However, this is not a requirement. Instead, for example, a plug that substantially conforms to the external end shape of the tube can be used that, depending upon the particular implementation will closely conform to and seal against at least one of the exterior periphery or end of the lighting assembly, or a plug that can be inserted into and will closely conform to the interior end shape of the tube. In order to form a tight seal, it is expected that the plug will be made of a material that is deformable to some degree such that it must be deformed when initially applied to an end of a tube and, in returning towards its un-deformed shape, will abut against a surface of the tube to create the desired seal.

FIGS. 22A-22D respectively illustrate, in simplified form, both a front and side view, respectively, of four different variant plugs2232,2234,2236,2238 that can be used as an alternative variant seal. Specifically,FIG. 22A shows the front and side views of asolid plug2232,FIG. 22B shows the front and side views of aplug2234 with a central through-hole2240 to allow for a limited connection between the interior of a tube and the exterior end, for example to accommodate through-passage of a conduit, wire or cable or to allow for ventilation or coolant circulation,FIG. 22C shows the front and side views of aplug2236 similar toFIG. 22B except that it has a through-hole2242 that is offset from the center, andFIG. 22D shows the front and side views of aplug2238 containing two through-

holes

2240,2242 to, for example, provide for both through-passage of a conduit, wire or cable and for ventilation or coolant circulation.

FIGS. 22E-22F respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view of thelighting assembly9 ofFIG. 9 with one of the

plugs

2232,2234 inserted into each of the ends of thetube900.

FIGS. 22G-22H respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view of thelighting assembly9 ofFIG. 9 with thevariant plug2236 ofFIG. 22C inserted into one end of thetube900 and theplug variant2238 ofFIG. 22D inserted into the other end of thetube900. As shown inFIG. 22G, theplug2238 allows for passage of wiring through the central through-hole2240 and additionally allows for passage of coolant from acoolant supply2244 into thetube900 via onehose2243 via the second through-hole2242 so that it can pass through the length of thetube900 and exit via asecond tube2245 via the through-hole2242 in theplug2232 at the other end.

As shown, it should be understood that the coolant provided by thecoolant supply2244 would be part of a coolant exchange system, only part of which is shown, that could be either a closed or an open system. Depending upon the particular implementation, the coolant could either pass through the tube(s) by being pushed or drawn through the system. In addition, depending upon the particular implementation, the type of coolant could be any of: environmental air, conditioned air, liquid coolants used in electronics such as, for example, synthetic hydrocarbons (i.e., diethyl benzene [DEB], dibenzyl toluene, diaryl alkyl, partially hydrogenated terphenyl); silicate-ester; aliphatics: aliphatic hydrocarbons of paraffinic and iso-paraffinic type (including mineral oils); Silicones; Fluorocarbons: such as perfluorocarbons (i.e., FC-72, FC-77) hydrofluoroethers (HFE) and perfluorocarbon ethers (PFE); and Non-Dielectric Liquid Coolants: such as Ethylene Glycol (EG), Propylene Glycol (PG), Methanol/Water, Ethanol/Water, Calcium Chloride Solution, Potassium Formate/Acetate Solution, and even Liquid Metals (e.g. Ga—In—Sn).

At this point it should be further noted that, although up to two round through-holes have been shown in a single plug, additional holes of any shape could be provided without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Likewise, a single through-hole could be used for multiple purposes, for example to allow for passage of both electrical connection(s) and coolant.

Having discussed a few of the numerous lighting assemblies that can be created by applying the teachings herein in various permutations and combinations, some details of the internal components of the lighting assemblies will now be discussed.

As the number of boards that are daisy chained together increase, power management running through the boards on the power rails can become an issue, even with as little as a combined total of 10 linear feet per rail. In such a case, the cumulative voltage drop across the boards can result in a situation where the rail voltage at the initial board(s) is significantly more than that at the hundredth, and with the huge displays creatable using the techniques herein, even the thousandth, or ten thousandth board, which can result in varying levels of illumination. One solution to this issue would be to add a regulator to each board. However, regulators give off heat and the greater the voltage difference that the regulator is trying to manage the more heat that will be generated. While the level of that heat generation may be acceptable in some cases, it could be problematic in others. Thus, it should be understood that, in some implementations, the rail current and/or the heat generated by the use of regulators can limit the number of boards than can effectively be daisy chained together.

Another consideration when creating a long daisy chain of boards, is the current required to power all the luminaires on all the boards. Moreover, if regulators are used, the heat they dissipate could cause the rails running between the boards to exceed their power capacity. One potential way to reduce the power on the rails is to increase the rail voltage, since the equations for power (P) are P=I×V=R×I²=V²/R. However, this may not work in all cases because it could also result in the regulators generating more heat and could ultimately overwhelm the system.

Another potential solution is to power the boards at higher a voltage while using step down transformers, which are often 98-99% efficient, to convert the power at the board(s) down to the desired level. Not only does this approach advantageously allow more boards to be daisy chained together then might otherwise be possible, it allows the boards to be run more efficiently and at power levels that are less taxing to their individual components. Moreover, although this approach can result in higher manufacturing cost, in many cases, this solution advantageously reduces the cost of running the boards and provides a level of increased longevity sufficient to more than make up for that higher manufacturing cost.

Likewise, for some implementations, other types of converters, such as “buck” converters, which can have efficiencies of 95% or more with for integrated circuits, or other highly efficient voltage conversion systems, including AC to DC converters can alternatively be used. The important aspect to this solution being the conversion, its efficiency and its compatibility with the particular implementation, not the particular type of converter that may be used.

FIGS. 23A-23D respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a side, front, back, and schematic representation of a series of printedcircuit boards2310 suitable for use as base units as described herein. As shown, the printedcircuit boards2310 each includemultiple luminaires120, at least one step downtransformer2320, and

power rails

2330 and2340 that are used to distribute power from a power supply2350 (shown only in the schematic ofFIG. 23D) to theluminaires120. Also as shown in the schematic ofFIG. 23D, all of the printedcircuit boards2310 are electrically daisy chained together by board-to

board interconnections

2360,2370 so that each of theluminaires120 are powered in a parallel circuit fashion via the

rails

2330,2340, depending upon the particular luminaires and associated circuitry, either directly or indirectly. As shown, in this variant implementation, theluminaires120 are not powered directly from the

rails

2330,2340 so one or more step downtransformers2320 are mounted on the underside of each printedcircuit board2310 and used to convert the voltage of the

rails

2330 and2340 to the appropriate voltage forluminaires120. As a result, with an appropriate source of power (for example, a power supply2350) from one to a large (essentially unlimited) number of printedcircuit boards2310 could be electrically daisy chained together for insertion into or within a single tube, two or more end-butted tubes, or a series of longitudinally aligned adjacent tubes.

Alternatively, as long as the previously discussed issues related to power drop are not a significant factor and the power requirements of the total number ofluminaires120 is known, then by selecting anappropriate power supply2350, the use of step downtransformers2320 or other conversion approach could be unnecessary and the

rails

2330,2340 could supply power directly to the parallel-connectedluminaires120. Advantageously, the approach that uses one or more step down transformer(s)2320 allows varying numbers of printedcircuit boards2310 to be connected together in a single implementation configuration, without potentially having to replace or adjust thepower supply2350 for each.

Alternatively, with some variant implementations, the power rails or signal lines could be formed as one or more metallic strips running the length of a tube on an interior surface thereof, for example, within the support channel. Appropriate placed contacts on each base unit board could then contact the necessary strip and form a connection thereby. Advantageously, this variant approach provides another way that different board sizes and board changes in position can be accommodated.

Although there are numerous possibilities for appropriate selection of the particular step down transformer(s)2320, for example, by limiting the number ofluminaires120 per individual board and the number of boards that are daisy chained together. With some alternative variants, simple regulators can be mounted directly on the individual printed circuit boards, without compromising a board's ability to move slidably within a tube. Additionally, in some instances it may be desirable to combine the use of a step down transformer and voltage regulator such that the step-down transformer handles gross power management and the voltage regulator handles fine power management. This pairing advantageously can result in lower voltage conversion, and consequently less heat, and as a byproduct, can also prolong component life.

Advantageously for some implementations, this type variant can provide savings in terms of one or more of: cost, power, heat generation, and thickness relative to current technology, which requires bulky expensive heat generating switching power supplies to be mounted behind each display or display matrix.

Within current technology, as displays get larger and larger, in order to reduce the time spent performing calibration, the size of the display matrix and associated switching power suppl(y/ies) increase commensurately with display size. However, with implementations created using the teachings herein successive lighting assemblies are registered through mounting/assembly and the boards are able to move slidably within a lighting assembly. As a result, they expand and contract as a unit and it is not necessary to expand the board size beyond that which can be controlled by a simple regulator. Thus, in contrast to current technology, board size (length and width) is, for practical purposes, advantageously independent of display size.

Additionally, a further advantage can be achieved in some implementations if a step downtransformer2320 is a constant current (or voltage) supply. Where this is the case, optionally, the current (or voltage) could be monitored through the use of known current (or voltage) monitoring capabilities using anexternal monitor2380 or an on-board monitor2380′ to detectluminaire120 failures and report any such failures to an on-board processing unit2390 orexternal processing unit2390′, which can be configured for automatically reporting status or periodically polled to obtain status information. The methods of communicating status beyond the tube could, depending upon the particular implementation, occur through a separate connection, for example a data or feedback line (not shown), or potentially wirelessly through separate communication capabilities internal to, or associated with one or more of the tubes.

FIGS. 24A-24C illustrate an alternative variant to that shown inFIGS. 23B-23D. As shown,FIGS. 24A-24C are respectively identical toFIGS. 23B-23D except that each board further includes an optional back-uppower supply2400 which could be any means of energy storage such as a battery or a capacitor, typically a supercapacitor (also called an electric double-layer capacitor, a super cap or ultracapacitor). Supercapacitors bridge the gap between conventional capacitors and rechargeable batteries because they store the most energy per unit volume or mass (energy density) among capacitors. The addition of the optional back-uppower supply2400 can allow the display to continue to run for some period of time during a power failure and can also smooth out power demand by handling burst-mode power delivery demands, such as when more than a certain amount of luminaires are concurrently or suddenly turned on.

FIGS. 25A-25C illustrate, in simplified form, a typical prior art fluorescent lighting configuration used to illuminate inventory in a typical store aisle. The lighting is made up of multiplefluorescent lighting fixtures25 made up of adisplay support structure2502 configured to accept multiple tube stylefluorescent light bulbs2504, aexternal power wire2510 through which eachfixture25 receives power,hangers2520 via which thefixture25 can be attached to some overhead structure (not shown) and suspended at a specified distance from theshelves2506. Since the lighting is made up of multipleindividual fixtures25, there is a dark spot (or lighting non-uniformity) created at thelocations2530, where each of thelight fixtures25 are end butted together.

FIGS. 26A-26C illustrate, in simplified form, alighting assembly26 employing the teachings herein for illuminating theshelves2506 of the typical store aisle ofFIG. 25A. As with the fixture ofFIG. 25, the lighting display is configured to be suspended from an overhead structure (not shown) at a specified distance from the shelves byhangers2620 on one or more supportingstructures2600 to whichtubes2640 of thelighting assembly26 are attached via some form ofattachment aid2610. As shown, thelighting assembly26 is made up of multiple continuous tubes as described herein withadjacent tubes2640 being interconnected such that, together, they have enough structural rigidity to significantly support themselves. Advantageously, and in sharp contrast to thefixtures25 ofFIGS. 25A-25C, thesupport structures2600 used with the lighting assembly constructed according to the teachings herein do not need to cover the length of theentire lighting assembly26, they need only be placed at sufficient locations as is necessary to provide overall support for the weight of thelighting assembly26 and avoid undesirable sagging at intermediate points that could result from the extended length. Additionally, and advantageously, it should be evident that, through use of the teachings herein, thelighting assembly26 does not have the dark spot (or lighting non-uniformity)locations2530 present with the fixtures ofFIG. 25. In addition, instead of having exposedpower wires2510 interconnected on the back of each fixture, thelighting assembly26 daisy chains the power connection on the end of each tube which can easily be covered by anominal cap2650 and, thereby, merely has a single exposedpower wire2660 for theentire lighting assembly26 at the end of one of thetubes2640.

FIG. 27A-27D illustrate, in simplified form, end views of a few different configuration lighting fixtures that can be created using the teachings herein. In that regard,FIG. 27A is an end view of thelighting assembly26 ofFIGS. 26A-26C showing that the fouridentical tubes2640 are connected to asupport structure2600 such that they form a planar fixture configuration.FIG. 27B illustrates, in simplified form, an end view of alighting assembly27 made up of two sets of tubes (i.e. eight tubes) from the fixture ofFIG. 27A that are interconnected to each other and, by virtue of the shape of thesupport structure2600′ to which they are attached, they form a convex lighting configuration.FIG. 27C illustrates, in simplified form, afixture27′ that is substantially identical to the fixture ofFIG. 27B except that, due to the structural support provided by the interconnection between adjacent units, it is not necessary to use anattachment aid2610 with everytube2640, and onetube2640 has been replaced with alight assembly19 as described in connection withFIG. 19 to show that, applying the teachings described herein, it is advantageously possible to mix and match lighting assemblies that have matching interconnections. Likewise, although not shown in this figure, it is possible to mix and match differentconfiguration base units110 among any tube configurations dimensionally capable of accepting them.

FIG. 27D illustrates, in simplified form, thelight assembly27 ofFIG. 27B coupled to adifferent support structure2600″ so as to now form a concave lighting configuration. In addition, and similar to the configuration ofFIG. 27C, due to the structural support provided by the interconnection between adjacent units, it is not necessary to use andattachment aid2610 with everytube2640.

Of course, it should be understood that thetubes2640 could have alternatively been connected directly to the ceiling or to a support structure mounted to the ceiling. Advantageously it should be appreciated that, using the teachings herein, such a configuration (particularly a direct-to-ceiling connection) is made easier by the fact that there is no need to run power connections to particular parts of the ceiling, there is no multitude of external wires to be accommodated, and a more aesthetically appealing appearance can be created because the tubes can extend, without a break, over the entire length or width of the room of desired.

FIG. 28 illustrates, in simplified form, an example use for thelighting assembly27 ofFIG. 27D, namely to provide uniform artificial lighting forplants2800 in a greenhouse.

Up to now, all of the tube configurations have been shown longitudinally arranged horizontally on a vertical support. However, this is not a requirement at all. As noted above, by employing the teachings contained herein, billboards can be created with vertically aligned tubes, allowing them to be serviced from the bottom, the top or both, depending upon the particular implementation. However, it should be appreciated that tubes implemented according to the teachings herein can likewise be used to create an illuminated wall and, advantageously, by orienting the tubes vertically, ones with curved or undulating shapes. Similarly, since the tubes can be formed in virtually any length, even though they may be oriented vertically, they can more easily accommodate unusual, or non-standard changes in, ceiling heights. As such, illuminated vertical walls or displays can be constructed for a particular application, potentially faster and at lower cost than could be done using current technology.

FIGS. 29A-29B illustrates, in simplified form, a representative example multi-curved vertical structure formed usingmultiple tubes2900 constructed according to the teachings herein. As shown inFIG. 29B, depending upon the particular implementation and in sharp contrast to conventional current technology, thetubes2900 can advantageously be maintained in place merely by moulding or trim2910,2920 on the upper and lower ends of thetubes2900 or, alternatively, to anunderlying support2902 using one of the approaches described herein or, owing to the nature of this approach (and again in sharp contrast to conventional technology), something as simple as double sided tape or magnetic attachments. Moreover, in contrast to conventional technology, with this approach, an illuminating wall created using tubes according to the teachings herein need not rely upon a power connection being in any particular location because the daisy chain interconnection can allow for a power connection to be located virtually any where, providing greater freedom of placement, while avoiding the need to potentially obscure unsightly power cords running between a power outlet and the desired location of the illuminating wall. This makes illuminating walls constructed according to the teachings herein much more usable for constructing displays in large open areas like convention centers and hotel ballrooms than can be done using conventional technology.

To further show the application versatility obtainable by using the teachings herein over and above the previously described applications, some other applications will now be described, bearing in mind that these applications are only representative examples of the potentially limitless ways that the instant teachings can be employed.

FIG. 30A illustrates, in simplified form, another example application employing the teachings herein, as flag type signage ordisplay3000. As shown, the signage ordisplay3000 is made up ofmultiple tubes3002, constructed as described herein hanging from asupport structure3006.FIGS. 30B-30C respectively illustrate, in greater detail, aspects of the signage ordisplay3000 ofFIG. 30A from the front and one side. As shown inFIG. 30B, some of the

tubes

3002,3002′ contain printed

circuit boards

110,110A (only one of which is visible in this view) withluminaires120 arranged such that they are equally spaced, on-center, within eachtube3002 and betweenadjacent tubes3002. Theuppermost tube3002 is attached to apole3040 of thesupport structure3006 bypole hangers3030 that interconnect with one of the

attachment extensions

3003,3005 on thetube3002. Thenext tube3002 is connected to thefirst tube3002 in a hanging manner using the

mating attachment extension

3003,3005, andsubsequent tubes3002 are interconnected in a similar manner. Additionally, as shown inFIGS. 30B-30C, the signage ordisplay3000 is not limited to incorporating tubes as described herein. Specifically, in this case, the signage ordisplay3000 includes

other connector panels

3010,3020. These

connector panels

3010,3020 interconnect to adjacent tubes using the attachment extensions and can be used for other purposes, for example, they can be partly or wholly opaque to contain non-changing printed information like a phone number, they can be transparent3010, which might be useful in instances where it is desirable to allow through-viewing, such as when the signage ordisplay3000 is outside of a windowed building, they can be constructed aspanels3020 with through holes, which might be useful in instances where it is desirable to allow air to pass through, such as when the signage ordisplay3000 will be subject to significant winds such as a large flag display or when placed on the outside of an open air parking deck or spanning a gap between buildings, they could also be constructed to contain photovoltaic cells, also commonly interchangeably referred to as solar cells that are used to power some or all of the signage ordisplay3000.

Normally connector panels would have the same attachment extensions male and female (for example, as shown on one connector panel3020) as whatever lighting assembly tubes they were interconnecting with. However, it should be understood that same type attachment extensions are also anticipated, on the tubes or connector panels (for example, as shown on anotherconnector panel3010, which has two male attachment extensions), such that direction of subsequent lighting assemblies will be reversed. Likewise, tubes and adapter connector panels can be used that have one form of attachment extension on one side and a different, non-compatible version on the other side, in order to allow typically non-compatible lighting assemblies to be interconnected. Thus, it should be appreciated that the use of attachment extensions can provide enhanced flexibility in the way tubes are attached to each other or other elements.

InFIG. 30C it can also be seen that connector panels can also serve as a way to change the lighting assembly components of a display from one lighting assembly type to another. For example, as shown oneconnector panel3010 is connected to onelighting assembly30 on one side and to anotherlighting assembly30′ on the other, which can be the same type of assembly, a different type of assembly, or some other element entirely, including, for example, another connector panel or a conventional sign.Connector panel3020 is connected tolighting assembly30′ on both sides.

As shown, the

lighting assemblies

attachment extensions

3003,3005 and thetube3002′ of theother lighting assembly30′ has asingle attachment extension3003′ and aninternal cavity3005′.

Using one or more internal cavities in combination with one or more attachment extensions is advantageous in that it enables adjacent tubes to be interconnected closer together. Alternatively, a given tube could be constructed to only have internal cavities and an appropriate connector panel could be used connect that tube to something else.

Additionally, as can be seen inFIG. 30C, thetubes3002 of this implementation are configured for creating a two-sided display with two printed

circuit boards

110,110A inserted so that they are facing in opposite directions. Other options for a two-sided display can involve having double-sided base units or alternating the direction of every other base unit or lighting assembly.

While it is anticipated that external line power (not shown) may be supplied to the flag type display, in some cases, thepole3040 could house battery storage or the display can be equipped with an external solar panel (not shown) in order to be self-contained.

FIGS. 31A-31C illustrate, in simplified form, an edge and two front views, respectively, of multiple iterations of another varianttype base unit3110 that, in addition to theluminaires120, include multiple solar cells3120 on the front face of theunit3110 and a rechargeablepower storage unit3130 on the opposite face of theunit3110. Advantageously, with this configuration the solar cells3120 can supply power to theluminaires120, in whole or part, and/or to therechargeable storage unit3130 to reduce or eliminate the need for an external power source for the display.FIG. 31C illustrates, in simplified form, thebase units3110 ofFIGS. 31A-31B mounted in thetubes700 ofFIG. 7.FIG. 31D illustrates, in simplified form, analternative lighting assembly31 incorporating thebase units3110 ofFIGS. 31A-31B. As shown inFIG. 31D, each tube3100 includes two printed circuit

board base units

3110,3110A, which, depending upon the particular implementation could be identical to each other or mirror images of each other.

At this point, it should be understood that, although up to now the base units have all been described as having at least oneluminaire120 thereon, this need not be the case for all base units. In some implementations, it may be desirable to have one or more base units that do not have anyluminaires120 on them at all. Rather, for those implementations, it may be beneficial to have base units that contain, for example, one or more of: solar cells, batteries or other storage, wireless transmitter circuitry, wireless receiver circuitry, processing capability (e.g. one or more microprocessors or state machines) and associated program and/or data storage in the form of RAM or ROM, or simply additional electrical circuitry.

FIGS. 32A-32B, illustrate, in simplified form, a front and side view, respectively, of one such example implementation of alighting assembly32 using such an approach. As shown inFIGS. 32A-32B, the alternating

tubes

3200,3202 respectively contain abase unit110 havingluminaires120 thereon and abase unit3210 that lacks luminaires but includessolar cells3220 on one side and some form ofrechargeable storage3230 on the other. In addition, two

different tubes

3200,3202 are used with onetube3200 formed so that it has alouver3240 on each side designed to block the sun from hitting theluminaires120, while thetubes3202 containing thebase units3210 containing thesolar cells3220 lack any louvers because they would reduce or block light from impinging on thesolar cells3220.

Additionally, assuming some power storage is provided either separately or on the boards themselves, that storage could be utilized to collect and store power during off peak hours for use during peak hours. Since the cost of energy is much cheaper during off peak hours, this could greatly reduce the cost of operating a system incorporating teachings contained herein.

FIGS. 33A-33C, illustrate, in simplified form, a representative example of the foregoing approach that incorporates solar cells into the louvers. Atube3300 is created withhollow louvers3302 with interior dimensions sufficient to slidingly acceptbase units3310 havingsolar cells3330 thereon (FIG. 33A) into the interior, such as shown inFIG. 33C. The remainder of the tube is configured in a manner described herein so that it can accept, as shown inFIGS. 33B and 33C, multiple interconnected printed

circuit boards

3110 and3110A havingmultiple luminaires120 thereon, in addition to the interconnected solar cell-bearing circuit boards3310 inserted intotranslucent tube3300. In this manner, the opacity of thebase units3310 perform the light blocking louver function while additionally collecting energy from impinging light. A further advantage to using tubes constructed according to the teachings herein is that inserted base unit(s) will render the louver opaque relative to the luminaires while being able to collect energy from impinging light. Depending upon the particular implementation, such an approach might mean that there would be no need for separate tubes to house solar cell containing base units (such as inFIGS. 32A and 32B).

For purposes of this example, the printed

circuit boards

3110,3110A optionally containrechargeable storage units3130; however, this is not a requirement. Nevertheless, in this particular case,such storage units3130 can advantageously be connected to the solar cells in the louvers for additional charging power or the output of theinterconnected circuit boards3310 could feed directly into the power supply lines of the luminaire-containing printed

circuit boards

3110,3110A. Consequently, for implementations where solar cells on the printed

circuit boards

3110,3110A cannot themselves supply sufficient power for the particular application, the additionalsolar cells3330 on thelouvers3302 can be used to augment that power and, in cases where the

boards

3110,3110A have their ownrechargeable storage units3130 and the combined power that can be collected using the solar cells can satisfy the luminaires'120 requirements, no external energy source would be needed.

As briefly discussed previously, conventional lighting configurations are not very good at creating displays of uniform brightness. In contrast, by employing the teachings, displays having superior uniformity in brightness can readily be constructed. This aspect will now be discussed in greater detail.

FIG. 34 illustrates, in simplified form, one example prior art attempt to make a uniform brightness lighting display usingmultiple fluorescent tubes3402. As shown, this configuration includes anarea3400 where thetubes3402 of the lighting fixtures overlap in order to try to compensate for dark (non-uniform) spots typically created when such lighting fixtures are end butted together. While this configuration may be an improvement over the end butted configuration, overlapping the bulbs overcompensates by creating bright spots, which although more desirable than dark spots, still fails to achieve a truly uniform lighting display.

FIGS. 35A-35C illustrate, in simplified form, a prior art alternative attempt to make a uniform lighting display using a standard display matrix. With this prior art approach, as shown inFIG. 35A, adisplay matrix35 is created by mountingmultiple LEDs3502 in an array configuration onto acircuit board3504 such that they are all connected to, and can be powered via, aboard connector3506. As shown inFIG. 35B, the display matrix35 (as shown made up of a 5×5 array of LEDs) is then inserted into aframe3510, and an epoxy3520 is flowed into the frame via anozzle3530 to encapsulate theboard3504 and the LEDs so as to form a unitary framedassembly35′. As shown inFIG. 35B multiple framedassemblies35′ are then attached together via a underlying carrier, circuit board orsupport3508 to create a larger display such as shown in front view inFIG. 35C. Alternatively, depending upon the particular prior art approach, the epoxy encapsulation can be held off untilmultiple boards3504 have been attached to the underlying carrier, circuit board orsupport3508. This alternative is represented inFIG. 35C wherein all but the upper center framed assemblies have already been epoxied and the upper center framed assembly is in the process of being flowed with epoxy3520 via thenozzle3530.

As each, or once all, of theassemblies35′ are thus formed, they are individually calibrated and can be used as part of a larger display. In practice, the individual calibration of the frames is a very time consuming and tedious task, adding cost in terms of time and/or manpower. Notably, the need for framing also limits the maximum board density and necessitates additional connectors and adds extra wiring. Not only is this extra wiring expensive, but it can add significant weight to a large display, further necessitating stronger supporting structures (adding additional cost), potentially limiting overall size for a given application or location, and potentially requiring additional manpower and/or expensive machinery to install on location.

While in some respects, the modularity of this prior art approach allows design engineers to approach design of a large system by replicating many smaller systems. The modular approach has disadvantages, particularly where graphical displays for the purpose of displaying video are created, because each module will have to be identical and have its own separate display driver(s) and potentially other circuit elements that add weight, cost, and points of potential failure.

To illustrate this problem inherent in prior art displays,FIGS. 36A-36B illustrate, in simplified form, a prior art attempt to make a uniform 10×50element lighting display3600 using a standard display matrix, such as thematrix35′ ofFIG. 35B. As shown inFIG. 35A, are arranged in a columnar fashion of twomatrix35′ units across and tenmatrix35′ units down.FIG. 36B is a right side view of the array ofFIG. 36A. In this view, the framedassemblies35′ are visible with theboard connectors3506 of theassemblies35′ for the far column inserted intoconnectors3610 of one side of atransformer3630 andboard connectors3506 of theassemblies35′ for the near column inserted intoconnectors3620 on another side of thetransformer3630. Notably, although the prior art display ofFIGS. 36A-36B showmultiple assemblies35′ sharing anindividual transformer3630, in practice, as the framed assemblies get larger and larger, each framed module may need to have itsown transformer3630. As is well known, transformers are generally heavy, potentially undesirably noisy, and they give off significant heat. In contrast, using the teachings herein, a lighter, more compact display of the same 10×50 size can be created that costs less than its prior art counterpart above and can be assembled faster and easier.

FIGS. 37A-37B illustrate, in simplified form, a front and right side view of a 10×50lighting display3700 constructed using the teachings contained herein to create a display that is lighter, cheaper, more quickly and easily assembled and produces more uniform lighting than the 10×50 display ofFIGS. 36A-36B. As shown inFIGS. 27A-27B, thedisplay3700 is made up of 10 columns ofindividual tubes37 each having therein a set ofinterconnected base units3702 withluminaires120 thereon such that they form linear array of fiftyluminaires120 pertube37. Consistent with the teachings herein, only thebottom base unit3702 in eachtube37 is connected to atransformer3730 via aconnector3710. As a result, even though this figure shows two tubes sharing asingle transformer3730, this configuration uses far less transformers than the prior art configuration ofFIGS. 36A-36B for a significant weight savings. Moreover, by using some of the teachings herein, each tube (in its fully functional form) or the entire array could have been more easily constructed off-site of the installation location and then transported to the site for installation. Likewise, from the side view ofFIG. 37B, it should be evident that less wiring is required for this configuration due to the use of the board-to-

board connectors

400,410. Moreover, and most advantageously, if a base unit3702 (or portion thereof) should fail, it can easily and quickly be serviced from an end of itstube37 and atransformer3730 failure could be easily serviced without disassembly of any of the lighting portion of thedisplay3700, whereas, to service a failure of a lighting element or a transformer on anyassembly35′ in the display ofFIG. 36A-36B, could require access from the back, front, or possibly both. The advantage provided by using the teachings herein could be very significant if such a display was a billboard or wallscape high up on a building. Indeed, with many displays created according to the teachings herein, the transformers could be located inside the building (making them less susceptible to both weather and temperature fluctuations that tend to reduce their life) or in an external cabinet that is readily accessible from inside the building, for example, via a window (making servicing considerably safer and easier). Still further, as should be evident from a comparison ofFIGS. 36A-36B withFIGS. 37A-37B, using the teachings herein, an “M by N” array using the same luminaire elements can be thinner in overall depth than could be created using the prior art approach. A further drawback to the prior art modular display creation approach described above, is that it is difficult to efficiently match current draw of individual modules with transformer capability, particularly if one wants to reduce the number of transformers. That is because, using the prior art modular approach, it is not generally possible to fit the number of LEDs in a single module that are needed to take advantage of the full capacity of the associated transformer. Moreover, that problem cannot easily be addressed except by standardizing each particular module size (in terms of number of LEDs and their maximum power draw) as equal to, or some even fraction of, the power capability of the transformer with which it will be used. For example,FIG. 38 illustrates, in simplified form, a schematic of a 10×10 lighting display constructed using four of the standarddisplay matrix units35′ ofFIG. 35B. Unless the maximum power that could be drawn by eachunit35′ ofFIG. 38 was ¼ of the power that could be supplied by thepower supply3630 via the

rails

3860,3870, thetransformer3630 would always be underutilized. Moreover, the overall display length and width must always be an even multiple of the length and width of the modules. In contrast, as shown inFIGS. 39A-39C, using the teachings herein, since it is possible to make tubes of any length and easy to fill a tube with different length base units having different numbers of luminaires that all share a common set of

power rails

3960,3970 through which atransformer3930 can supply power, it is easier to create any desired display size while concurrently matching the number of required transformers or their capability to maximize efficiency or minimize unused power supply capability.

Up to now, many of the variant applications involved creating displays that provide uniform light. When creating such uniform lighting displays, such as described above, advantageously, any or all of the base units can be essentially interchangeable. This is not true however, when creating a large graphic display, for example, a digital billboard, that can display a static graphic image that changes or cycles with other images after some period if time, and/or can display video, since each board will potentially be displaying independent content and need to have some form of addressing scheme to enable the proper components to be lit in the proper way at the proper time.

The traditional approach for such displays is to hardwire each board with an address and to provide instructions or data related to what is to be displayed to each board on an address specific basis. While this approach makes sense and can certainly be used to create large graphic displays using tubes constructed according to the teachings herein such an approach requires each base unit to have a fixed or settable address or address range. As a result, if a base unit fails, a new unit must be used that has the same address/address range or can be set to that address or address range.

Alternatively, base units can be created for use as described herein that incorporate self-addressing such that, an individual base unit can be used in any location within the display because, only after the base unit is installed, will it be associated with a particular address or address range. U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and U.S. Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907, both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein, disclose systems and methods for creating and using wired and wireless self-addressing control units both with and without feedback. Advantageously, self-addressing control units constructed according to the teachings therein can be used in conjunction with the teachings herein to create graphic displays from identical base units as described herein. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907 both specifically teach a circuit for addressing control units wherein two or three wires are used to control the units and the data flow to the units. Each of the control units self-addresses upon system startup. This is accomplished by each unit checking its ID number by looking at the ID number of the unit in front of it and adding a one to that number and storing that number in a permanent nonvolatile memory establishing its ID. This happens down the line and accordingly, an infinite amount of sequential control units can self-identify within the system. Thereafter, once the unit knows its ID number, it watches a main broadcast wire or fiber optic link or radio link or other communication means for its ID number. When it sees its ID number, it reads and uses the block of data that follows that ID number. Accordingly, if any of the control units should fail, the remainder of the units are able to function independent of the failed unit. Additionally, a failed unit can be replaced by any other operable unit, even one already in the system with another assigned number, and the replacement unit will appropriately address itself and will be active in the system. In this way a system of many control units or parallel computers is created, which units self-address and are able to look to a broadcast line for relevant data directed to them and perform a task as a collective unit.

Some of the immediately following descriptions will now describe various forms of self-addressing and example applications of those approaches. In connection with those discussions and illustrations, reference will be made to wiring representing certain signal lines, e.g. data and/or address lines in the singular for simplicity. However, it is to be understood that the reference to any such signal “line” is intended to encompass a single, serial, path as well as a parallel path, a path configured with a single wire, multiple wires in a ribbon or coaxial form, a wired bus, optical fibers, or any other physical signal transmission path usable under the circumstances through the application of ordinary skill. Likewise, the reference to wireless transmission of information is intended to encompass any wireless transmission method and/or protocol usable under the circumstances through the application of ordinary skill.

FIGS. 40A-40B illustrate, in simplified form, a self-addressing system as disclosed in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907. Specifically,FIG. 40A shows an example implementation a wired version of a self-addressing system having a data line but no feedback line andFIG. 40B shows a similar system having a data line and a feedback line. Similarly,FIGS. 41A-41B respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a wireless version of the self-addressing system incorporated by reference, both without a feedback line (FIG. 41A) and with a feedback line (FIG. 41B).

For use according to the teachings herein, variants of the systems and methods described in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907 will be implemented in constructing a base unit but generally, instead of adding “1” to the ID number, adds some constant value to the address, for example a binary value, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc., an octal value, a decimal value, etc. or applies a particular algorithm to or based upon the address, or uses a table search using or based upon the address to obtain its address (i.e. self-address). Depending upon the particular implementation, this will allow for the ID number to serve as an address, with values between one base unit and the next base unit forming a range of on board addresses for each base unit. For example, if a base unit only carries one luminaire made up of 4 LEDs of different colors: red, green, blue and white, and its ID number is “8”, a constant of five could be added for the next (and each successive) base unit so that on this base unit, the address “9” could be assigned to the red LED, the address “10” could be assigned to the green LED, the address “11” could be assigned to the blue LED and the address “12” could be assigned to the white LED. In this manner, the control unit would look for either its ID number of “8” or an ID number equal to “8” or less than “13” such that the individual colored LEDs could be directly addressed or addressed as an ID number plus an offset. Alternatively, the incrementing could still be any constant, but data associated with that address would establish which of the LED(s) to turn on.

While the ability described in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907 to look to a broadcast line to trap relevant data directed to each of the units is powerful in and of itself, as the size of the display increases, the number of units in series will similarly increase. As the number of units in series increases, at some point this can have a detrimental impact on the system's ability to send all of the instructions necessary for proper display in a timely fashion. For instance, with a large number of base units operating as described in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907 or a variant thereof described herein, sending all of the data necessary down a physical data line may be acceptable for a marquee type scrolling display, but is not likely sufficient to display video on a very large display.

In such a situation, rather than just sending the data down one piece at a time to each unit, all of the data necessary to display an entire video (or some portion thereof) could be initially sent down the data line and stored in each unit in associated memory or a suitably sized buffer. Depending upon the particular information, the data could also include additional information such as frame number. Then the addressed base units would either listen for a synchronization pulse and output the graphical display associated with the frames one at a time in sequence or, if available, listen for a frame number and output the graphical display associated with the matching frame number.

As the number of units grows, depending on the frame rate and the length required for a physical data line, it may be necessary or desirable to use the same technique but wirelessly, in order to produce the desired quality due while avoiding the latency caused by physical propagation delays. With wireless data transmission, all units could receive the synchronization or frame number information substantially concurrently (i.e., without experiencing a propagation delay that could have a significant impact on display quality).

The technique of multiple base units making up a graphical display receiving information for which they can establish an initial address, store that address in memory, and then listen for broadcast instructions combined with the sending and storing of video, which may include additional information such as frame number, and then having the self-addressed units either listen for a synchronization pulse and output the graphical display associated with the frames one at a time or, if available, listen for a frame number and output the graphical display associated with the matching frame number is extremely powerful and has numerous applications beyond graphical displays like electronic billboards and wallscape displays and, in some cases, need not require specifically constructed base units. This combined technique will hereafter be referred to as “synchronized stored video” and, depending upon the particular implementation, can be operated wirelessly, through a physical data line, or some combination of both. One example application for which synchronized stored video could be used is in a concert to turn attendee's smart phones into parts of a giant ad hoc graphical display unit. In this particular case, if the seating in the concert location is fixed, then the video could be “overlayed” on top of the seating layout such that each seat would correspond to some known portion of the display “screen.” Thus, the address that would be stored by each phone would correspond to the seat number on the ticket (or alternative representation of that location). Prior to the concert starting each attendee would be prompted to download an application (which might be persistent, temporary or concert specific) which would, in turn download some portion of (or the entire) video corresponding to that particular address (e.g. seat location). During the concert, attendees could then be prompted to start the application and hold up their smart phones which would listen for, for example, a synchronization pulse or frame number broadcast, for example, using, for example, the Bluetooth wireless data exchange standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 4G LTE, 5G data, etc. or any other smart phone-implemented data communication approach (the important aspect being the communication of data, not the standard by which it is communicated), and output their associated stored graphic display information.

Note here that the storage of a seat number or other location identifier is a special form of self-addressing not previously disclosed in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 and incorporated Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907, which is independent self-addressing. With independent self-addressing, an actual physical location is able to be independently determined for the unit itself, without reliance on the rest of the components of the system, for example, the physical coordinates may be determined using, for example, built-in or associated GPS capabilities. In the concert example above, it is unnecessary for the units to pass address information between each other in order to establish a self-address. In this case, the self-addressing can be based upon the user inputting a physical location (seat number or other representative location identifier), which may be transitory or only applicable within some limited time period (e.g. during that particular concert for that user's specific location), so it is completely separate from any fixed addressing that has already been established for the phone (e.g. the phone number associated with, for example, its subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module (SIM) card). Advantageously, since the physical location of any particular user can be independently established, without communicating between units, whether or not someone is in the seat next to the user has no bearing on whether self-addressing can occur. Moreover, as opposed to fixed addressing, which, as its name implies, is typically pre-set and fixed, with independent self-addressing, the self-address will change as the location changes.

Further it should be understood that, in general, with the technique of synchronized stored video, the information stored in any individual addressed unit can be, depending upon implementation and/or intended application, any of: only the information that corresponds to a particular address, some portion or the entire video for all addresses, or the information associated with one or more address in close proximity (e.g. the two or three addresses that either proceed or follow it). The latter two can advantageously be useful, in the case of when a board is damaged and needs to be replaced. Adding the ability to not only send information that can be used to establish a new address but also communicating through that same address line what to display when the unit hears the synchronization pulse (or frame information), means that a failure of a given base unit in the system could be repaired without having to rebroadcast the data to all units. Advantageously, following repair/replacement the fixed or replacement base unit could simply receive all the appropriate data it needs from the unit in front of or behind it.

Alternatively, with an implementation variant that uses wireless data transmission, it is also possible to receive live broadcast video data without the need to receive and store the video ahead of time.

FIG. 42 illustrates, in simplified form, a schematic block representation of one representative example self-addressingradio controller repeater42 capable of either capturing live video data or performing synchronized stored video and its contents, the functions of which are represented in the more detailed expanded representation and which would likely be implemented as achip set4200.

As shown, the chip setexample representation4200 includes components capable of performing numerous functions that range from graphical displays to non-display applications like coordinating synchronized movement a swarm of self-controlled or autonomous devices like robots, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mini or micro UAVs. Depending on the capabilities required for a particular application, it is to be understood that the represented chip set4200 could be modified, expanded or reduced as necessary. For purposes of understanding the description herein (particularly the operational description that follows), at the very least, the self-addressingradio controller repeater42 ofFIG. 42 needs amicrocontroller4202, acrystal clock4204, I/O Ports4206, and a source ofpower4210. In the case of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42, power is shown as coming from two channels: 1) a capacitor or ULTRA CAP orBattery4212 and 2)LINE Power4210; however only a single source is necessary and, as previously discussed, power could be supplied by solar cells either on the base units containing a self-addressingradio controller repeater42, from separate solar cell panels, and/or incorporated into, for example, one or more louvers.

For further purposes of understanding the description herein (and particularly the relevant description that follows) the self-addressingradio controller repeater42 should also include: address IN port(s)4208, address OUT port(s)4214, andmemory4216 capable of storing an address. As shown, thememory4216 is identified inFIG. 42 as nonvolatile memory. This is because nonvolatile memory allows one to perform repairs without the system needing to readdress itself. However, it is to be understood that thememory4216 could alternatively be volatile memory or some combination of nonvolatile and volatile memory.

Alternately, for a non-self-addressing chip set (i.e. one with hard (i.e. fixed or physically settable) addressing) these features could be replaced by, for example, physical hard wiring of an address into a data port of the microcontroller, dip switches settable by a field technician wired into a data port of the microcontroller, or a fixed address written into code or burned into some form of Read Only Memory (ROM).

The address OUT ports are labeled as “X”, “Y”, “Z”, etc. . . . inFIG. 42. The purpose of this is to indicate both that there are multiple address OUT ports but also that they can individually transmit addresses for different dimensions. For example, with “X”, “Y” & “Z” addresses in three-dimensional space can be represented using Cartesian coordinate scheme, or as values according to, for example, a polar, spherical or cylindrical coordinate system or any other coordinate system appropriate for the particular implementation, the only requirement being that sufficient address OUT ports are available to transmit the information needed to represent a given location using that coordinate scheme and that the receivers are capable of understanding information sent out according to that coordinate system. The inclusion of multi-dimensional address transmission allows for the creation of not only linear self-addressing arrays but also multi-dimensional self-addressing configurations.

While there are multiple address OUT ports there does not need to be an equivalent number of address IN ports. This is because, it is generally expected that the address IN information would typically be read from a single direction/channel. However, there is no technical reason why a variant could not be straightforwardly implemented according to the teachings herein that could have multiple address IN ports and receive multiple addresses in different dimensions or according to a defined coordinate scheme. For instance, in addressing a swarm of collectively moving self-controlled or autonomous devices, it may be more efficient to initiate self-addressing with several of the devices simultaneously at different locations around the periphery of the swarm and, as such, having multiple input lines configured as a multi-dimensional address IN could be beneficial. In such a case, the calculated address stored in nonvolatile memory of each device could either be a combination of the address IN information from multiple dimensions or a calculated address could be generated and separately stored from the information received for each dimension.

For configurations of displays or other devices that may be constructed according to teachings herein that use wired self-addressing, that self-addressing could be accomplished, for example through separate address ports, one of the I/O ports, or through wired communication ports4218 configured according to, for example, a known standard such as RS 232, Ethernet, or USB. In this regard, it should be understood that the wired communication ports ofFIG. 42 are representative of typical, known communication channels for purposes of understanding. It is to be understood that other communications schemes, whether standard or proprietary can be used to the same or similar effect for communicating addresses, data and/or feedback, again, the important aspect being the ability to communicate, not the particular connector or protocol used.

At present, if wireless data receipt (or transmission from a master control unit) is to be used, it is accomplished by one or more wireless data transmission channels. In that regard, thechip set4200 is shown, for purposes of example only, as including a standard wireless communication channel of cell phone implementing, for example, 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 5G, etc. (e.g. Telit cg 869-XXX Huawei Mc323 M2M), WiFi, BlueTooth, 802.15.4, ZigBee 2007, ZigBee Pro, ZigBee SCoP (ZIPT), G Lo W P A N, Generic ZigBee Cluster Library, ZENA microchips, MRF24J40 MB, . . . , etc.) Alternatively or additionally, depending upon the particular implementation, short-range communication technologies, such as infrared, and/or other medium and long-range wireless communication channels and standard or proprietary protocols can be used.

Moreover, by selecting amicrocontroller4202 with appropriate processing power, the chip set4200 can also straightforwardly be coupled to a camera or other image capture equipment to capture live video data and output it appropriately.

In addition, although wireless data reception is possible through a single wireless data transmission channel, for many implementations constructed according to the teachings herein, it will be desirable to have multiple data channels due to the fact that, in some cases, not all data channels will be available in all locations or, if they are available, there may be, for example, too much external noise on a particular channel to make it usable under the circumstances. Therefore, the ability to select from among multiple wireless data channels can be a desirable additional optional feature and could be accomplished, for example, through channel hoping with parity checks between the slaves and master using a step down hand shaking protocol or any other application-suitable approach, again the important aspect being the availability of different wireless communication channels, not the particular type of channel or protocol that may be used.

In order to perform synchronized stored video on a graphic display, the only change is that the memory needs to be of sufficient size to store the received video data. At this point, it is worth noting that, for this particular application, using nonvolatile memory for address and data is more desirable than using volatile memory from the standpoint of potential base unit repair and/or replacement. If volatile memory is used, powering down of a set of interconnected base units would cause a loss of whatever was in the volatile memory of all the powered-down units, not just the one(s) that needed repair or replacement. As a result, following repair or replacement of a specific base unit, every base unit in the row or column of the display (depending upon how the tubes are oriented to create the display) that lost power would need to have its data re-sent rather than just the repaired or replacement unit being installed. In contrast, by using nonvolatile memory, the address and/or data stored in the adjacent base units would not be affected by the power down to repair and/or replace any failed base unit(s) and the newly repaired or replacement unit could receive the necessary address and/or data from its closest neighbor(s) through the appropriate address IN and/or data port(s).

FIG. 43 illustrates, in simplified form, an arrangement of base units4302-1,4302-2,4302-3,4302-4,4302-5, within agraphic display4300 constructed according to the teachings herein. As shown, the first base unit4302-1 is a master control unit, which is electronically connected to the address port of the next base unit4302-2 in the series. That base unit4302-2 is similarly electronically connected to the address port of the next base unit4302-3 in the series and so forth. As shown, the electronic connection between both the master control unit4302-1 and the next base unit4302-2, as well as the connection between subsequent base units4302-3,4302-4,4302-5, is shown as a one-way data connection, as it provides electrical isolation between chip sets. However, for other implementations, this could alternatively be a two-way data connection.

The master control unit4302-1 has the ability to wirelessly broadcast addressed data packets, receive feedback wirelessly and transmit an address to and from each of the other base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4,4302-5.

The other base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4,4302-5 each have the ability to wirelessly listen to a data stream transmitted by the master control unit4302-1 and extract data from within the stream specifically addressed to it (and to follow instructions within that data), as well as the ability to transmit address information, and the ability to wirelessly provide feedback.

When an address “A1” is transmitted from the master control unit4302-1 to the next base unit4302-2 in the series (which, as shown in the example ofFIG. 43 could be any constant value) that next base unit4302-2 uses the transmitted address information and a predetermined algorithm f(A1), or lookup table, to calculate or determine its own address, A2, and stores the derived (i.e. calculated or looked-up) address in its memory (again, typically, but not necessarily, nonvolatile memory). InFIG. 43, a specific sample predetermined algorithm that adds a constant “K” to the received address information, [A1+K], is shown, as well as a more generic representation of a predetermined algorithm, f(A1), to indicate that any appropriate algorithm, derived value, or look up approach can be used. After that particular base unit4302-2 has determined its address, based upon the address it received, that base unit4302-2 will pass its derived address A2, in this case “[A1+K]” to the next base unit4302-3 in the series, which will then determine its address in the same way and pass it on, and so forth, until all base units have received an address from their immediately preceding base unit and derived their own address from the one they received.

A less sophisticated alternative variant approach (or one that can be applied if an intermediate base unit has failed) does not require each base unit (or the base unit after the one that failed) to calculate its address and output it, but rather causes the base unit to broadcast its stored address back to a master control unit and either explicitly ask the master control unit for an address to output to the next base unit or to simply know to wait for the master control unit4302-1 to broadcast an address for that base unit to output to its next neighbor. The waiting base unit would then listen for the master control unit4302-1 to send a data packet directed to its particular address and then respond accordingly. This technique could be used in any instance were a feedback channel is provided, wireless or otherwise, such as shown, for example, inFIG. 40B and/orFIG. 41B, which would provide a way for the master control unit4302-1 to know that one or more base units in the series has a failure that creates one or more “gap(s)” in the series. At any point, if a base unit is at the end of the line (or is otherwise unable to transmit an address to the next base unit in the series, due to for example that base unit either being missing or damaged, then after it has determined and stored its individual address, it could simply do nothing or, if there is a feedback channel the base unit can provide feedback to the master control unit that it cannot provide its address to a next base unit or, if it has a way of knowing (like some form of terminator being attached where the next board would be, that it is the last base unit in the series.

Optionally and/or alternatively, if the master control unit knows how many base units there are, the system can be configured so that the master control unit can count when it receives feedback from all of the base units or, if it knows or can calculate all of the addresses that should be calculated by each base unit, then, as each base unit feeds its determined address back to the master control unit4302-1, the master control unit can delete or mark that address as set, in either case, the master control unit can know whether or not the full contingent of base units have all determined their addresses. In a further alternative approach, based on a pre-established protocol, the master control unit can simply wait for the last base unit in the series to broadcast its address and assume that the address received represents the end of the line.

With wired addressing, another approach that a master control unit can determine that a given base unit is the last in the series is that the base units could have been pre-programmed or have received instruction from the master control unit that, if its calculated address corresponds to a specific value, then it is suppose to be the last base unit in the series. Alternatively, if the address line provides two-way communication, then a base unit could listen for a handshake from the next successive base unit following passing its address to the presumed next base unit in the series. If it does not receive a handshake within a specified timeout period, the sending base unit could assume it is at the end of the series. Finally, depending on the particular variant and its electrical configuration, it is possible to, using known techniques, configure the system to poll information about an I/O port and determine if there is anything connected to the port based on measuring current drain or some other electrical propert(y/ies).

Aside from listening for a broadcast from the last base unit in the series, which may never come in the event of a failure of a base unit, the master control unit could send out addressed instructions to a particular base unit requesting that it provide feedback of either its address or some other requested status information. Depending upon the particular implementation, the addressed instructions could either be targeted information to the base unit anticipated to be at the end of the line, they could be in the form of a “roll call” where each base unit is sequentially requested to provide its address or some status information, or base units can be requested to provide address or some status information according to a standard search algorithm, for example one that could allow the system to identify where a failure occurred.

One representative example of a standard search algorithm uses a type of half interval search. This would be accomplished by sending a request to a base unit in the center of the series for its address or some other information. If it is received, the problem is between the center and the end. If not, the problem is between the master control unit and the base unit in the center of the series. Once the half range where the problem is located is determined, the center base unit in the half range with the problem is the halved in the same manner. The process (halving the bad group with the problem and then checking) repeats until the failed base unit is isolated.

The simplest protocol for wireless feedback, assuming multiple wireless communication channels are available, is to receive data on one channel and to provide feedback through a separate wireless communication channel. However, in the event that the same wireless channel must be utilized for both receipt of data and feedback then a protocol, for example as follows, could be implemented based on the use of base units configured in a master/slave relationship. The protocol would rely upon a base unit slave, knowing that it is a slave, and so it will never broadcast unless it has received specific instructions from the master control unit to provide feedback. Other alternative protocols, such as the slave only providing feedback during pre-established breaks, could also be used. Indeed, any protocol that would allow for ensuring that all good base units have their address and, optionally, allow for the detection of a failed unit can be used.

Since the wireless communications channels of the base unit shown inFIG. 42 allow for two-way communication, it is also capable of wireless self-addressing. Given the capabilities of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 as shown, it is possible to use the wireless channels of that chip set4200 for self-addressing over distances from less than about 2 feet (under normal operation) to across the globe using cell phone technology. In some implementation cases however, with the interlocking base units discussed herein, excessive crosstalk could be a problem. As a result, chip set4200, as shown, also optionally can include separate wireless addressing channels that can be used for such close quarters circumstances where crosstalk could be a problem. Specifically it optionally could include any one or more of the three wireless transmitter-receiver pairs shown. One such transmitter-

receiver pair

4222,4224 that could optionally be included is a Hall effect transmitter-receiver pair, with thetransmitter4222 indicated by the magnet with a coil wrapped (a magnetic field producer) around it andHall effect receiver4224 represented by a box with a small coil on its end. Another transmitter-receiver pair that could be used is an

optical transceiver pair

4226,4228, which could be any pairing that uses electromagnetic waves (in the visible or invisible parts of the spectrum) such as ultraviolet, infrared, visible light, or coherent beams (i.e. laser), etc. to communicate between the two. A third example transmitter-receiver pair that could be used is a broadcast

transmitter receiver pair

4230,4232, illustratively represented by antenna, which could use any conventional broadcast wavelength within the electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for the distance, available power and application.

FIGS. 44A-44F illustrate, in simplified form, a functional example of a sequence of actions making up one method of wireless self-addressing using a wireless transmitter receiver pair and a base unit4302-1 configured as a master control unit and some of the other base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4 fromFIG. 43. Specifically,FIG. 44A also includes anaddress signal4400,FIG. 44B also includes anaddress signal4400′ andfeedback4410,FIG. 44C also includesbroadcast data4420 and anaddress signal4430, andFIG. 44D also includes anaddress signal4430′ andfeedback4440.

The Master Control Unit4302-1 has the ability to wirelessly broadcast addressed data packets, receive feedback wirelessly and wirelessly transmit and receive an address.

The base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4, each listen to the broadcast by the master control unit4302-1 for their specific address in the broadcast and extract data (which may be true data or data representing instructions for that base unit to act based upon) from within the stream that is specifically addressed to it and act accordingly based upon what is received.

Additionally, in some implementations, a master control unit can also have the capabilities of a base unit (i.e., it can listen to the broadcast from another master control unit (not shown) for its specific address and extract data (which may be true data or data representing instructions for it to act based upon) from within the stream that is specifically addressed to it and act accordingly based upon what is received.

FIG. 44A illustrates the initiation of the addressing process. The master control unit4302-1 will begin broadcasting anaddress signal4400. If theaddress signal4400 is insufficient to initiate addressing then nothing will occur and no feedback will be received by the master control unit4302-1.

If no feedback is received, then the master control unit4302-1 will broadcast anotheraddress signal4400′, which could be theoriginal address signal4400 simply rebroadcast with increased signal strength trying a different wireless transmission channel, if multiple wireless channels are available, or, if a wired channel is also available, sending the same signal via the wired channel.

FIG. 44B illustrates, in simplified form, the circumstance where therebroadcast addressing signal4400′ is sufficient to initiate addressing. The first base unit (or next base unit in implementations where the master control unit is also a base unit) receives the addressingsignal4400′ and, based upon information contained in thatsignal4400′, it calculates its address, stores the calculated address in nonvolatile memory, and providesfeedback4410 to the master control unit4302-1 indicating that it has been addressed.

FIG. 44C illustrates, in simplified form, the next step, in which the master controlunit broadcasts data4420 that then tells the first base unit4302-2 to transmit its address and instructs all of other currently unaddressed base units4302-3,4302-4 to, for example, listen for any address being broadcast, listen only for a specific address being broadcast (which might be useful in a crowded situation where other nearby master and slave base units are also using self-addressing, or listen for an address that meets certain parameters or for a base unit to do so if it meets certain specific parameters.

Examples of specific parameters that could be used in some variants include, to only respond to an address signal broadcast at a specific strength or on a specific wavelength or channel or to only respond if the base unit has specific GPS coordinates or meets some specific criteria.

FIG. 44C illustrates, in simplified form, the next step in which the initially addressed base unit4302-2 initially transmits itsaddress signal4430 to the next base unit4302-3 in the series. As with the master control unit, if there is no response then that base unit can do a rebroadcast.FIG. 44D illustrates, in simplified form, the next step for the case where no response to the initial broadcast was received. As shown, the base unit4302-2 transmits anew address signal4430′, which, as with the master control unit, could be a rebroadcast of the original signal with increased signal strength or potentially trying a different wireless transmission channel if multiple wireless channels are available, or, if a wired channel is also available, sending the same signal via the wired channel.

When the next base unit4302-3 has determined its address, it similarly providesfeedback4440 back to the master control unit4302-1.

FIG. 44E illustrates, in simplified form, the process steps ofFIG. 44C andFIG. 44D until all of the base units have provided feedback to the master control unit4302-1 that they are addressed.FIG. 44F illustrates, in simplified form, that all base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4, . . . , are addressed and the master control unit4302-1 can now send data and/or instructions to those base units4302-2,4302-3,4302-4, . . . to effect the desired display.

UnlikeFIGS. 44A-44F, where the starting address was transmitted by the master control unit4302-1,FIGS. 45A-45C illustrate, in simplified form, a functional example of a sequence of actions making up a method of wireless self-addressing without needing a master control unit to supply an initial starting address to it. As shown inFIGS. 45A-45C the example transmitter-receiver pair is a Hall effect transmitter-receiver pair. As a side note it should be mentioned that, since a Hall effect transmitter-receiver pair is directional, all of the discussion related toFIGS. 45A-45C is equally applicable to other directional transmitter-receiver pairs including those operating on a purely “line of sight” basis (which is a special, more limited case, of directional transmitters and/or receivers).

Returning toFIGS. 45A-45C, a base unit or other device acting as amaster control unit4500 has ability to wirelessly both broadcast addressed data packets and receive feedback.FIG. 45A illustrates the initiation of the addressing process for this approach. Themaster control unit4500 sends broadcastdata4502 to instruct all of thebase units4504 to begin the addressing process. In response, all of thebase units4504 send out anaddress signal4510 to their next neighbor base unit in the series, which in its simplest form is simply an “on” pulse but, in more complex implementations, could be one or more instructions and/or particular data. InFIGS. 45A-45C, the base units are configured with a linear alignment of the Hall effect transmitter-receiver pairs4522. Advantageously, as a result, anybase unit4504 that does not receive an input pulse from a precedingbase unit4504 will be able to determine that it is the first base unit in the series and, thereby establish itself with an address, depending upon the particular implementation which may be part of theinitial broadcast data4502, or may be calculated or predetermined from contents of particular address data in its storage, that corresponds to the address to be used by a first base unit in the series. For example, in a simple example, a internal instruction in each of thebase units4504 might say that the predetermined address that corresponds to the first unit is equal to “1” if (a) the base unit does not receive an input pulse from a preceding neighbor base unit to which it is connected via its hall effect receiver and (b) amaster control unit4500 did not otherwise specify an address to use for the first unit in itsinitial broadcast data4502.

While, in general, many independent wireless self-addressing implementations will have someunit4500, be it a base unit, or something else, which will perform the functions of the master control unit, its presence is not required for all implementations. For some implementations, the functions of the master control unit could also be initiated within the power-up routine built into each base unit so that, for example, upon power-up, after waiting some time interval to allow for stabilization, eachbase unit4504 could transmit an address initiation pulse to its next neighbor base unit and at the same time look for the receipt of either an address initiation pulse or an address from its preceding neighbor base unit to determine if it was the first base unit in the series. Depending upon the particular implementation, a base unit could be configured to determine if it is the last base unit in the series based upon some form of detection or feedback, or could simply operate as if there was a next base unit, even though there is no unit to receive anything from it.

Once aspecific base unit4504 determines that it is the first in the series, it will, for example, use a pre-determined address stored within it as a default address or calculate an initial base unit address based upon instructions and/or data contained therein, and if necessary, store that initial address in its memory. Upon completion of determining its address by whatever method, that first base unit can then begin the next step in the addressing process by, as shown inFIG. 45B, transmitting anaddress signal4520 to the next base unit in the series so that it can determine its address, and so forth for each base unit down the line.

FIG. 45C illustrates, in simplified form, the case when the last base unit in the series receives anaddress signal4530 from its preceding neighbor base unit. After determining and storing its own address, since it has determined on power up that it is the last base unit in the series, that base unit sendsfeedback4540 to themaster control4500 that either, it or all, of thebase units4504 have been addressed. This is because, depending upon the particular implementation, each base unit can be configured to, for example, send its own feedback signal to themaster control4500 once it has determined its own address (which is useful for cases where a base unit cannot determine that it is the last in the series or where this action may be used to help identify a failed base unit) or, if a base unit can determine it its the last in the series to minimize the number of feedback signals themaster control4500 must handle.

At this point it should be noted that, in different implementations, it is possible for a base unit to determine that it is the last one in the series through various approaches including, for example, the setting of a dip switch or jumper on a base unit during installation to indicate that it is a last unit, or, if what would be the last address in the series is known, that address value could be set on one or more of the intended last base units so that each can perform a simple “compare” to determine whether its address is that set value and, if it is, then it is the last base unit in the series.

FIGS. 46A-46D illustrate, in simplified form, the functional example of how a failed base unit in a wireless self-addressing configuration ofFIGS. 45A-45C can be determined and handled. The configuration ofFIG. 46A-46D is identical to that ofFIGS. 45A-45C except that, one of thebase units4504 is now a damaged base unit4604. As shown inFIG. 46A, the process is initiated according to one of the approaches described in connection withFIG. 45A but, it should be noted that, in this variant configuration, the Hall effect transmitter-receiver pairs, being directional, are configured such that, on the transmit side, the transmitted signal is an “overflow signal” in that it strong enough to reach the receiver of not only the immediately adjacent base unit, but the base unit thereafter (called a “jump” base unit) but no further, but the signal is also weak enough at the jump base unit that it will not interfere with, or be overshadowed by, a similar signal provided by the immediately adjacent base unit. On the receiver side, the receiver is configured to receive the signal from its preceding base unit as described in connection withFIGS. 45A-45C under normal circumstances but detect that it is receiving an overflow signal as a jump base unit if the signal has a strength below a certain level. Returning to the process ofFIGS. 46A-46D, due to the fact that there is a failed base unit4604 in the series (indicated by the “X” over it), which, in this example, is unable to both transmit and receive an address signal, the base unit immediately after the failed base unit4604 will not receive theaddress pulse4610 signal at full strength. Instead, it will receive a reduced strength address pulse from the base unit immediately in front of the failed base unit4604. As a result, this base unit will be able to establish that it is a jump base unit and not the first base unit in the series. At this point it should be noted that this might not be the case with many implementation involving “line of sight” transmitter-receiver pairs because, the intervening failed base unit4604 would block the transmission to the base unit that comes after the failed base unit and, thus, both the first base unit in the series and what would be the putative jump base unit would both think they are first base unit in the series unless specific “work around” circuitry was implemented in the base units to deal with this situation. Since the creation of such “work around” circuitry to handle this case in this particular type of implementation is not necessary for understanding the teachings herein and would involve the application of routine skill and general design choice, that aspect is left to the creator of such particular implementation and not discussed herein.

InFIG. 46B, as inFIG. 45B, the first base unit determines that it is the first in the series and the process of addressing all of the base units in the series by transmitting an overflowsignal address signal4620 to the next base unit in the series proceeds.

However, due to the failed base unit4604 the base unit in the series after the failed base unit will receive a reduced strengthoverflow address signal4630 from the base unit immediately in front of the failed base unit4604 and determine that it is a jump base unit as a result. Once a base unit is a jump base unit, depending upon the particular implementation, the jump base unit could be configured to take any of multiple actions according to, for example, the intended application, the base unit capability or implementer's needs or abilities. By way of a few representative example approaches not intended to be exclusive, the jump base unit could be programmed to do nothing, it could be programmed to send afeedback signal4640 back to themaster control4500 and wait further instruction, it could use the reduced strength address signal to establish its address (effectively ignoring the intervening failed base unit4604 and making it the next in the series) and then either continue as normal (and optionally additionally sendfeedback4640 to the master control unit4500), it could sendfeedback4640 to themaster control unit4500 indicating that the preceding base unit is a failed base unit and provide the address it received as a reduced strength overflow address signal so that themaster control unit4500 could determine the proper address for the jump base unit to use and transmit it back to the jump base unit so the process could proceed, or it could apply an internally stored alternative determination protocol that would allow it to use the overflow address signal and use it to determine its proper address.

In this manner, as shown inFIG. 46D, having receivedappropriate broadcast data4650 back from themaster control unit4500, the jump base unit can continue the process down the line by sending itsaddress signal4660 out to the next base unit in the series (not shown).

As an aside, in some implementations, once all thebase units4504 have self-addressed, themaster control unit4500 could individually poll the base units to determine whether the purported failed base unit4604, rather than being completely failed, might just have a weak output, in which case an actual base unit failure may have incorrectly been assumed. In this recovery scenario, there would be two or more addressed base units with the same address, which themaster control unit4500 could then easily correct by sending out instructions to the jump base unit and all base units thereafter in the series to readdress.

Still other forms of handling self-addressing in the face of a failure of a base unit could involve having redundant transmitter receiver pairs that directly bypass the base unit that they are on and are only used as a fallback in a failure case. While this approach allows for an additional level of recovery, it is not as powerful as using multi-dimensional address reception. In the simplest case, with reference toFIGS. 46A-46D, putting a second set of transmitter receiver pairs acting in the same direction would produce a single dimension (X) redundant system. However, reversing the direction of the second set of transmitter receiver pairs (−X) would result in a form of multi-dimensional address reception.

FIGS. 47A-47E illustrate, in simplified form, a representative example of a configuration ofbase units4704, of which one is a partially failedbase unit4706, illustrate a system implementing multi-dimensional address reception. As shown, all of thebase units4704, including the partially failedbase unit4706 are constructed like thebase units4504 of the previous figures, except that they also include a second set of transmitter receiver pairs4708a,4708barranged in a reverse direction to establish the second dimension (−X).

As with the examples of the previous two sets of figures,FIG. 47A illustrates initiation of the addressing process. As before, themaster control unit4700 will sendbroadcast data4702 to instruct all of the

base units

4704,4706 to begin the addressing of the series along the primary dimension (X). All of thebase units4704 will then send out anaddress signal4710 to the next base unit down the line in the primary direction via the first set of transmitter-receiver pairs and, as appropriate, determine if they are the first or last base unit in the series.

Due to the fact that there is a damagedbase unit4706 in the series, which, in this example, is unable to transmit anaddress signal4710 to the base unit that immediately follows. However, since theaddress signal4710 is an overflow address signal, the base unit immediately after the damagedbase unit4706 will not receive theaddress pulse4710 at full strength. Instead, it will receive theoverflow address signal4710 as a reduced strength address and follow the appropriate protocol applicable to jump base units as, for example, described above.

For this example however, and in contrast to the example ofFIGS. 46A-46C, presume that thebase unit4704 immediately following the damaged base unit4706 (indicated inFIG. 47A with “Starting Point?”) was unable to determine whether or not it was the first base unit in the series, which could be the case if the Hall effect transmitter-receiver pairs were replaced with “line of sight” transmitter-receiver pairs, or possibly if the signal to noise ratio was insufficient to make the determination.

As a result, as shown inFIG. 47B, addressing in a second dimension (−X) would be triggered (or, in other implementations, initiated as part of a standard addressing protocol). This process could be initiated by themaster control unit4700 sendingnew broadcast data4712 for use by the second set of transmitter-receiver pairs (or in some cases, could involve the master control unit sending both sets of

broadcast data

4700,4712 in a single step). The reversedimension address signal4720 is then transmitted in dimension −X, starting from the last base unit in the series (illustratively shown as the base unit farthest from themaster control unit4700 and it is assumed for illustration purposes that this base unit can determine that it is the starting point.

At this point, the advantages and power of multidimensional address reception becomes apparent. For example, since this base unit did receive an address signal in the X dimension but did not receive an address IN signal, it can determine, as shown inFIG. 47C, that it is at the end of the line. This means that the end point can be established without requiring either themaster control unit4700 or anybase unit4704 to know ahead of time the total number of base units in the series to determine an end point, which allows for dynamic configurations to be more easily constructed.

As shown inFIG. 47C, with multi-dimensional address reception, themaster control unit4700 sends outbroadcast data4730 to instruct the

base units

4704,4706 to begin transmitting addresses beginning with the first base unit in each dimension. In the case of the X dimension the damagedbase unit4706 would result in two base units initially acting as if they are both starting points and both of them will initially transmit the first addressingsignal4740. In contrast, in the −X dimension there is only one starting location and only oneinitial address signal4750 would be transmitted in the −X dimension.

FIG. 47D illustrates, in simplified form, that the addressing signals, to the extent that they can, will continue to propagate in both dimensions. Note here that, for simplicity, the algorithm used for self-addressing in both the X and the −X directions is simply to add the constant value “1” to the previous address; it should be remembered that the value could be any constant and/or the algorithm could have been any algorithm. Ultimately, in the case of the X dimension, twoaddress signals4760 would propagate due to the multiple start points, but one would make it to the end because one of thebase units4706 is damaged. However, in the −X dimension, theaddress signal4770 would propagate all the way through without error. Once a base unit has determined its address in both the X dimension and the −X dimension, it provides feedback to themaster control unit4700 identifying its address in both dimensions. As a result, the mid series base unit that incorrectly thought it was a starting point now has its −X dimension addressed as well and so it provides feedback back4780 to themaster control unit4700 that its addressing is complete and, for purposes of simplicity in this example, that its address is “1” in the X dimension and “3” in the −X dimension. If the self-addressing was properly performed in the entire series, the highest address received as feedback by themaster control unit4700 for the X dimension would match the highest address received as feedback by themaster control unit4700 for the −X dimension and, if not, themaster control unit4700 would know that there was a problem in one of the dimensions, namely, the one with the lower address. Alternatively, if themaster control unit4700 receives duplicate addresses in a dimension, they will both begin at the same value and propagate in duplicate until the failure point is reached, themaster control unit4700 will know, or can derive, that there is a failure in the base unit, along the dimension where the duplicate self-addressing occurred, immediately following the last duplicate address. With another alternative, if the master control unit knows the total number of base units, or the expected final address, from the feedback it can compare the highest value received in each dimension to that number and, again, if a mismatch occurs, this is indicative of a self-addressing failure and it can use an approach herein to identify the point of failure.

Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, themaster control unit4700 may or may not know the final base unit count, but, with this approach, at some point it will receive duplicate addresses in one dimension and (unless there is a failure affecting both dimensions on one or more base units) an address that is at least one address higher than in the other dimension, with the higher number indicating, directly or indirectly, the total number of base units. Moreover, with this information and assuming a single failure affecting only one dimension, themaster control unit4700 can readily derive from the highest address it receives in each dimension, how far down the line (i.e. which base unit) has the failure. For example, inFIG. 47E, when self-addressing is complete, the highest address in the X dimension would be “3”, whereas the highest address in the −X dimension would be “5”. Subtracting “3” from “5” would yield “2” and indicate the failure was in the second base unit in the X dimension. As a result of this new information, themaster control unit4700 can then take action to cause the base units to correctly self-address by sending additional broadcast data (not shown) to tell the base unit immediately following the failure in the particular dimension (and optionally the base unit with the failure) the proper address(es) or by providing information from which the proper address(es) can be determined. In the example ofFIG. 47E, it could therefore tell thebase unit4704 immediately following thebase unit4706 with the failure in the X dimension to use address “3” in the X dimension address and trigger a propagation down the line thereafter. Optionally, themaster control unit4700 could tell thebase unit4706 with the failure to use address “2” in the X dimension so that, if it is otherwise functional, it could work properly despite the addressing problem. Notably, the same approach would still work if there is more than one failure in a single dimension (provided there were no failures in the other dimension). In that case, themaster control unit4700 would receive feedback of three or more duplicate addresses and would proceed to handle the first failure in the line as described above. However, since there were multiple failures, then:

1) if the failures existed on two or more adjacent base units, the self-address values would not propagate from the base unit immediately following the first failure, (i.e. the situation would remain unchanged) indicating that the next board likewise had a failure. Themaster control unit4700 could then move on to the next successive base unit, and so forth, until there was a proper correlation of end addresses in both dimensions; or

2) if the failures existed on two or more base units with at least one good base unit between any two failures, the single failure approach would be used to account for the first failure. Then, in an iterative fashion, the same approach would be used starting from the base unit immediately after the accounted for failure until the final addresses in both dimensions properly correlated.

Aside from advantageously providing powerful recovery capabilities in the event of one or more failed units, multi-dimensional addressing can also be utilized to self-address very complex systems.

FIGS. 48, 49, and 50A-50C illustrate, in simplified form, representative examples of how to use multi-dimensional addressing to self-address a display, made up of aseries base units4840, each havingmultiple luminaires120 thereon, that have been connected together and axially inserted into the board support channels of a set of axially aligned tubes constructed according to the teachings herein, and configured in a two-dimensional matrix for self-addressing using wired (FIG. 48), wireless (FIG. 49) and combination (FIGS. 50A-50C) approaches. While, for purposes of these examples, and simplicity of understanding, a two-dimensional matrix is used, it should be understood that the same teachings can readily be extended to a three dimensional grid, or to any number of dimensions as desired for the particular application. Note here that, for purposes of discussion, the terms “row” and “column” may be used in certain examples. It is to be understood that this usage is intended to only differentiate between orthogonal dimensions (e.g. the X & Y dimensions of a Cartesian coordinate system) and not intended to imply or require any particular orientation of the lighting array or other device within which the self-addressing approach is used. In other words, depending upon the particular display involved, the base units linearly arranged within a tube could be referred to as a “row” or as a “column” irrespective of whether the tube itself is oriented within a plane horizontally, vertically, or at some angle, or, within a three-dimensional system, at some combination of angles defining a complex orientation within a three-dimensional system. Moreover, and likewise, the term multi-dimensional addressing is intended to purely be a reference to addressing within a lighting system independent of the orientation of the display in any given plane or in a three-dimensional space.

Specifically,FIG. 48 illustrates, in simplified form, the use of multi-dimensional self-addressing of a two-dimensional matrix (grid) using wired data transmission in connection with alighting assembly48. Eachtube100 in thelighting assembly48 includes, in this example, at one end, a printedcircuit board4820 with a master/slave unit4810 mounted thereon, adata line4814 extending to a board-to-board connector element, anaddress line4816 wired in between each two printedcircuit boards4820 ofadjacent tubes100 and anotheraddress line4818 connecting the printedcircuit board4820 to a series of interconnected printed circuit boards that are the luminaire-bearingbase units4840. Each of the luminaire-bearingbase units4840 has achip set4830 that corresponds to one of the variant chip sets described in connection withFIG. 42, a board-to-board data line4824 ultimately serially connecting all of thebase units4840 in eachtube100 to thedata line4814 of the printedcircuit board4820, a board-to-board addressline address line4828 ultimately serially connecting all of thebase units4840 in eachtube100 to theaddress line4818, and rails4850 and4850′, which supply power to all printedcircuit boards4820 andbase units4840 within eachtube100.

In addition, the master/slave units4810 on each printedcircuit board4820 are coupled to adata line4804 from amaster control unit4800 so that they can receive data and instructions from themaster control unit4800 via thedata line4804.

Themaster control unit4800 is interconnected to thefirst tube100 of thelighting assembly48 through anaddress line4806, which is propagated tosubsequent tubes100 of thelighting assembly48 in multi-dimensional manner via each tube-to-tube address line4816.

Within eachtube100 of thelighting assembly48, the self-addressing between master/slave unit4810 and the chip sets4830 within the tube can be accomplished in a linear address transmission manner as described herein in connection withFIG. 40A or, if a data feedback line is included, as disclosed in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,059 or Reissue application Ser. No. 13/921,907. However, the addition of subsequent lines oftubes100 to form thelighting assembly48, being multi-dimensionally interconnected through the tube-to-tube address line4616, renders linear address transmission unsuitable by itself for some implementations. For others, it is possible to first address within atube100 of thelighting assembly48 and then address between the followingtubes100 if the last address within atube100 or the total number of addresses that will be used within a tube is known, allowing themaster control unit4800 to sequentially send the proper address to each master/slave units4810, however, that approach requires additional addressing lines (not shown) to connect themaster control unit4800 to the master/slave units4810.

The protocol of self-addressing betweensubsequent tubes100 of alighting assembly48 starts with themaster unit4800 and progresses sequentially through the master/slave units4810 of eachtube100 as if it was a separate linear self-addressing array as described herein. The initial address is transmitted from themaster control unit4800 to the first master/slave unit4810 in the series. The initial address transmitted could be any value but for illustration purposes thenumber 0 will be utilized. The first master/slave unit4810 then, through a predetermined algorithm, calculates and stores its “row” address in its nonvolatile memory. For illustration purposes the predetermined algorithm will be assumed to be adding a constant value, but the algorithm could be more complex, could involve accessing a lookup table, could involve a combination of those approaches (i.e. apply an algorithm and then use the result as a hash value into a table), or any other suitable algorithm. Once it has self-addressed, the initial master/slave unit4810 will output its address, using theaddress line4816, to the next sequential tube's100 master/slave unit4810, which will repeat the process to determine its self-address and then pass it on to the next master/slave unit4810 of the next tube, and so forth until all of the master/slave units4818 have been self-addressed. Assuming, merely for purposes of understanding in connection with this example, the predetermined algorithm is to simply add the value of “1” to the previous address, then this will result in the “row” addresses sequentially being (inFIG. 48, from top to bottom) the values of “1”, “2”, “3”, . . . . Once all the rows have been addressed, then self-addressing of theboards4840 within eachtube100 of thelighting display48 can proceed.

At this point it should be noted that this example approach requires the self-addressing of all of the master/slave units4810 of thetubes100 to be complete before the inter-tube addressing begins. That is because it is presumed that thelighting display48 incorporates an approach that allows themaster control unit4800 to detect a failed master/slave4810 unit, for example using teachings contained herein, or some conventional approach for detecting a failed electrical device, and thus, if there is a failure in one of the master/slave units4810, themaster control unit4800 may need to trigger some of the master/slave units4810 to repeat the self-addressing process after taking some action. Of course, there is no technical impediment to beginning the self-addressing process within atube100 immediately after its master/slave unit4810 has self-addressed, so it should be understood that this approach (whereby self-addressing may occur within a tube concurrently with ongoing self-addressing by one or more master/slave units4810) could also be used, although it has drawbacks and could result in erroneous content display if there is a failed master/slave4810 unit in thelighting display48.

Assuming however, that thelighting display48 contains all good components or all the master/slave units4810 have all properly completed self-addressing, the process of self-addressing within a tube can begin. The initial step in that process begins with each master/slave unit4810 transmitting its address to the chip set4830 of thefirst base unit4840 in the series of interconnected base units using theaddress line4818 on thebase unit4840. As noted previously, the initial address transmitted could be any value. Indeed, that address transmitted with atube100 can, but need not be, related to the self-address of the master/slave unit4810 at all. By way of a few representative examples to illustrate the point, in one example, the master slave addresses could have been values that sequentially incremented by the value of “1” from tube to tube, and the address within eachtube100 might begin incrementing from the number “1” such that the address of any given chip set4830 could be represented as a value containing both the rows address and column address together (e.g. “1.4” where the number to the left the decimal point represents the “row” number and the number to the right of the decimal point represents the “column” number). In another example, the starting address for each master/slave unit4810 could be derived using an algorithm such that they begin at the value of “1024” and go up in increments of “2048” such that the self-address for the master/slave unit4810 in the second tube100 would be “3072”, the self-address for the master/slave unit4810 in the third tube100 would be “5110” and so forth, and the first base unit chip set4830 within a tube100 would use that master/slave unit4810 address value to calculate its own, for example by simply adding the value “16” such that the first chip set4830 in the first tube100 of the lighting display48 would have a self-address of “1040” (i.e. 1024+16), the first chip set4830 in the second tube100 of the lighting display48 would have a self-address of “3088” (i.e. 3072+16), etc., a further example could have the first chip set4830 use the value of the self-address provided by the master/slave unit4810 of its tube100 as a hash value into a table, use the value within the table at that location as its self-address, pass that self-address value to the next chip set4830 within the tube, etc. which will do the same, etc. until all of the self-addressing within each tube100 is complete. In a final example, the “row” self-address value could simply be passed along and the “column” self-address value (i.e. self-address value within atube100 of this example) could be determined in some wholly independent manner using, for example, some value contained in the memory of, or physically set on, the first or eachindividual base unit4840 with eachtube100.

As should now be appreciated, base upon the teachings herein, the permutations and combinations of ways that any given component in a display can self-address are vast and provide significant advantages over conventional large display systems that must predetermine and set each component's address individually.

Within eachtube100, it should now be recognized, the process will proceed in the same basic manner that was used for the self-addressing of the master/slave units4810 of each tube. Advantageously, the same type of failure checking can be employed to identify a failure and/or deal with addressing in spite of a failure.

Accordingly, once all of the chip sets4830 in all of thetubes100 of thedisplay48 have been self-addressed, themaster control unit4800 can begin to transmit display instructions and/or data usingdata line4804.

In the row-column based address example above, where each chip set might only know its “column” number, each master/slave unit4810 would be responsible for parsing data from themaster control unit4800 for its “row” and then transmitting only that data to the chip sets4830 within the “row” using thedata line4824. On the other hand, if an approach is used whereby the chip sets4830 know both their “row” and “column” address, then each master/slave unit4810 in eachtube100 could simply pass on all of the data coming from themaster control unit4800. However, in such a case, most of the data transmitted within a giventube100 will be for other chip sets in other tubes of the display48 (i.e. it will be irrelevant to every chip set4830 within that tube100). As a result, even if the chip sets4830 within a tube know both their row and column address, it is likely desirable that the master/slave unit4810 in eachtube100 still parse the data for its particular rows and only transmit that information on via the in-tube data line4824.

In the example ofFIG. 48, it should now be understood and appreciated that themaster control unit4800 has the ability for wired broadcast of addressed data packets and to transmit an address. Additionally, each master/slave unit4810 has the ability to listen to a wired data stream and extract data within the stream specifically addressed to it and then transmit that data downstream, receive address information, and transmit address information in a plurality of dimensions.

Finally, chip set4830 has the ability to listen to a data stream and extract data within the stream specifically addressed to it (and to follow instructions within that data) and the ability to transmit address information. Note further that by including the capabilities of a master/slave unit4810 into each chip set4830 it is possible, in some implementations, to eliminate the printedcircuit board4820 in eachtube100 ofFIG. 48 that contains the master/slave unit4810 because thefirst chip set4830 in the row would then perform all of the functions specified as being performed by the master/slave unit4810, as well as those it would normally perform.

FIG. 49 illustrates, in simplified form, the use of multi-dimensional self-addressing in a two-dimensional matrix (grid) using a combination system of both wired and wireless data transmission and both wired and wireless self-addressing of a plurality oftubes100 making up alighting assembly49 constructed based upon the teachings herein. As shown, because the connections within eachtube100 ofFIG. 49 are wired, within a tube the self-addressing can proceed as described in connection withFIG. 48 or according to any other wired in-tube approach. In overview and contrast toFIG. 48, the tube-to-tube self-addressing inFIG. 49 will occur via one of the wireless approach variants described herein or based thereon.

As shown inFIG. 49, eachtube100 in thelighting assembly49 includes a printedcircuit board4920, which has a master/slave unit4910, data line4914, and address line4918 thereon, multiple printed circuit board base units4940, which each have a chip set4930 andmultiple luminaires120, a data line4924, and an address line4928 thereon.

Each of the master/slave units4910 further include one or more wireless transmitter-receiver pairs, such as those described in the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42, and thus is capable of transmitting and receiving anaddress signal4916 and wireless data.

In addition, the printedcircuit board4920 and base units4940 in eachtube100 of thelighting assembly49 receive power from

rails

4950 and4950′ and, in thisexample lighting assembly49, the power for each tube is independently supplied by aseparate power source4902, which could be a true power supply, line power, direct power from solar cells, apower storage unit3130,rechargeable storage3230, or some other source of power suitable for the application. Of course, in other variants, power could be collectively supplied from a single source and, likewise, power to one or more of theindividual tubes100 inFIG. 48 could have been independently supplied by different power sources. The master/slave units4910 each receive data and instructions wirelessly from amaster control unit4900 throughreceipt broadcast data4906 transmitted by themaster control unit4900, and conduct tube-to-tube wireless self-addressing with each other multi-dimensionally using awireless address signal4916.

Within thelighting assembly49 the self-addressing within eachtube100 between a master/slave unit4910 and the series chip sets4930 is accomplished as described, for example, in connection withFIG. 48. However, unlike the approach ofFIG. 48, which uses awired address line4816 to connect betweensubsequent tubes100 of thelighting assembly48, thelighting assembly49 is multi-dimensionally self-addressed wirelessly using thewireless address signal4916. The protocol for wirelessly self-addressing betweensubsequent tubes100 of thelighting assembly49 is accomplished as a separate linear self-addressing array and may be performed according to any variant of the wireless self-addressing approaches ofFIGS. 44A-F,FIGS. 45A-C orFIGS. 46A-D.

As withFIG. 48, and maintaining the same “row” and “column” terminology, most implementations constructed according to the teaching illustrated inFIG. 49 would first self-address all the “rows” (i.e. from tube-to-tube) and then self-address all the columns (e.g. the base units within each tube). Then, once all the chip sets4930 of thelighting display49 have been self-addressed, themaster control unit4900 could then begin to wirelessly transmit information for parsing and passing on to the chip sets4930 within theirtube100 using itsdata line4814 and from chip set4930 to chip set4930 within the tube via the board-to-board data line4924. In the example ofFIG. 49, themaster control unit4900 has ability to wireless broadcast addressed data packets. The master/slave unit4910 has the ability to listen to a wireless data stream and extract data within the stream specifically addressed to it and then transmit that data downstream, as well as receive address information, and transmit that address information both wirelessly and over an address line. Finally, the chip set4930 has the ability to listen to a data stream and extract data within the stream specifically addressed to it (and to follow instructions within that data) and the ability to transmit address information to another chip set4930.

As with the configuration ofFIG. 48, by including the capabilities of the master/slave unit4910 into the chip sets4930 it is possible to eliminate the printedcircuit board4920 and have the first chip set4930 in each tube perform all of the functions specified for the master/slave unit4910, as well as those normally performed by each chip set4930 as a member of the series within thetube100.

FIGS. 50A-50C illustrate, in simplified form, multi-dimensional addressing of a two-dimensional matrix (grid) using a completely wireless system for self-addressing fromtube100 totube100 and within each tube of alighting assembly50.

Eachlighting assembly50 is made up ofmultiple tubes100 each including multiple interconnected printed circuitboard base units5040, which each has achip set5030 andmultiple luminaires120 thereon. Each chip set5030 within thelighting assembly50 further includes one or more wireless transmitter-receiver pairs, such as those described in connection with the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42, and thus is capable of transmitting and receiving both a tube-to-tube address signal5060 and anaddress signal5080 within a tube, and one or more means of wireless data reception channel capable, such as also described in connection with the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 50A-50C, thebase units5040 in theindividual tubes100 of thelighting assembly50 receive power from one or more power source(s) via

rails

5050 and5050′.

As shown inFIGS. 50A-50C, the self-addressing is performed completely wirelessly.FIG. 50A-50B illustrate, in simplified form how this occurs from tube-to tube based upon themaster control unit5000 initially sending out abroadcast signal5006 to all chip sets5030 to indicate that self-addressing is to occur and then, based upon themaster control unit5000 sending outbroadcast data5006B telling all of the chip sets5030 to self-address from tube-to-tube using a wireless self-addressing protocol such as, for example, any of those described in connection withFIGS. 44A-44F,FIGS. 45A-45C,FIGS. 46A-46D orFIG. 49.

However, unlike as described in connection withFIG. 49, in which there is only one master/slave unit4910 pertube100 in thelighting assembly49, with the lighting assembly ofFIG. 50, each chip set5030 would independently establish its row number within its column, using a predefined protocol, such that all chip sets within aparticular tube100 of thelighting assembly50 would have the same “row” address value, assuming all chip sets are functioning properly.

Once the “row” addressing (FIG. 50B) is completed, then within eachtube100 of thelighting assembly50 the “column” address values would then be determined. The protocol for determining the “column” address values (i.e. within each tube100) is accomplished as a separate linear self-addressing array and may be according to any of the previous methods described for wireless self-addressing described in connection withFIGS. 44A-44F,FIGS. 45A-45C orFIGS. 46A-46D. However, rather than having self-addressing occur with all thetubes100 at same time, which is possible with variants created based upon the teachings provided in connection withFIG. 48 andFIG. 49, with fully wireless configurations, there is a possibility of crosstalk between tubes that could result in mis-addressing, particularly if overflow signals are used. As such, it is expected that the protocol for in-tube addressing will involve each tube performing in-tube wireless addressing one tube at a time. Of course, if thetube100 orlighting assembly50 construction is such there is sufficient shielding betweentubes100, then in some cases,multiple tubes100 could conceivably self-address at the same time. Likewise, even without shielding, depending upon the strength and directionality of the transmitter-receiver pairs it may be possible to have base units in two ormore tubes100 perform in-tube self-addressing if they are sufficiently spaced apart such that their respective signals to not interfere. Still further, if theindividual tubes100 of thedisplay50 are sufficiently long, since in-tube addressing occurs sequentially from base unit to base unit within the tube, with some implementation variants it may be possible, again depending upon signal strength, shielding, directionality, etc., to have adjacent tubes perform in-tube wireless self-addressing on a staggered basis.

FIG. 50C illustrates, in simplified form, the initiation of in-tube self addressing, with themaster control unit5000 sending outbroadcast data5006C telling the rows one at a time to address themselves resulting in the chip sets5030 issuing an in-tube address signal5080 to their next neighbor chip set5030 within the tube.

FIG. 50D illustrates, in simplified form, alighting display50′ that is, in all material structural, functional and operational respects, identical to thelighting display50 ofFIGS. 50A-50C (so those details are not shown) except that, inFIG. 50D, power is supplied to each base unit (i.e. their chip sets, luminaires, etc.) in thelighting display50′ through the use ofsolar cells5090.

In the examples ofFIG. 49 andFIGS. 50A-50D, the

master control units

4900,5000 have the ability to wirelessly broadcast addressed data packets and, variants of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 are capable of serving as a

master control unit

4900,5000. Each chip set5030 similarly has the ability to listen to a wireless data stream and extract data within the stream specifically addressed to it (and to follow instructions within that data), and to receive and transmit address information in at least two dimensions. Thus, variants of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 are also capable of serving as the master/slave unit5010.

Up to this point, the discussion has focused on self-addressing uniform/grid type displays such as those in a two-dimensional billboard or wallscape, or higher order displays. Even the example of turning smart phones in a concert venue into a graphical display unit operated according to a known grid space, in that example, based upon seat number. However, that is not typically going to be the case where chaotic systems are involved, such as coordinating a swarm of autonomous self-controlled or autonomous devices or even a strand (or individual) loose lights, for example holiday lights that have been hung in a tree or on a structure and it is desired that they self-address in order to act as a coordinated system. In such a system, it is desirable to base the self-addressing of each on either their absolute or relative positioning, rather just their specified numbers (e.g.: 1, 2, 3, . . . , etc.). Alternatively, if each device in a swarm of autonomous self-controlled or autonomous devices will be fairly stably located in a specific location and includes a chip set (like a variant of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42) that hasGPS4234 capabilities, (or the equivalent or other variant (e.g. cellular pseudo-GPS, DGPS, GLONASS, COMPASS, Galileo, QZSS, IRNSS, Beidou, DORIS, IRNSS, etc.)) then, in some cases, the GPS resolution may be accurate enough for the specific application that each device could independently self-address using its GPS coordinates. Note here that, GPS has inherent inaccuracies (GPS is typically only specified as being accurate up to about 30 feet) such that, in many cases, it may be desirable to first wait a predetermined amount of time for the device to initialize itself and then average the GPS derived location information over a specified time interval in order to establish the GPS coordinates of a given device.

Given the inherent inaccuracy of GPS, GPS is generally not accurate enough for the example of lights hung in a tree.

For such configurations, if a chip set has the ability to wirelessly listen to a data stream and extract data from within the stream that is specifically addressed to it (and to follow instructions within that data), the ability to wirelessly transmit and detect radio signals, and the ability to wirelessly transmit feedback, then such chips sets would be capable, through the techniques of computational geometry, and in particular the concept of triangulation, determine their position relative to one another. As an example, variants of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 could advantageously be used for such an application.

While there are numerous triangulation techniques within computational geometry, one suitable method that can be implemented with variants of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 is Delaunay triangulation, which is described in, for example, B. Delaunay, “Sur la sphère vide. A la mémoire de Georges Voronoi”, Bulletin de l'Académie des Sciences de l'URSS. Classe des sciences mathématiques et na, no. 6, pp. 793-800 (1934), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Since then, there have been many refinements to the technique over the years, including implementation of a divide and conquer paradigm to perform efficient triangulation in any dimension, such as described in Cignoni, P.; C. Montani; R. Scopigno, “DeWall: A fast divide and conquer Delaunay triangulation algorithm in E^d”. Computer-Aided Design30 (5), pp. 333-341 (1998), which is also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

While a full explanation of the techniques and algorithms for performing Delaunay triangulation in any dimension space can be found in at least the references above, for purposes of completeness, a basic overview of the technique using a two-dimensional example is illustrated, in simplified form, inFIG. 51A-51X with the understanding that, being a known technique, those of ordinary skill could implement Delaunay triangulation without a rigorous explanation being set forth herein.

FIG. 51A illustrates, in simplified form, the desired outcome of a Delaunay triangulation, which is to determine a set oftriangles5110 such that no vertex point of one triangle is inside thecircumcircle5120 of any other triangle. This approach is extended to 3-dimensional space inFIG. 51B, where the desired outcome is to determine the set of simplex5130 such that no vertex point is inside the circum-hypersphere5140 of any simplex. To apply Delaunay triangulation in this context, the goal is for each chip set to be unambiguously located at a vertex of a triangle or simplex and that location to be used by it to self-address, either directly or indirectly through application of some further algorithm.

FIGS. 51C-51X illustratively walks through the preliminary steps in performing Delaunay triangulation in two dimensions according to a variant as described herein that includes chip sets5102 arranged in an irregular two-dimensional array. For purposes of this example, a variant of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 with the appropriate communication capabilities could be used. For purposes of illustration, as an aid to understanding the concept, layman's language will be used, with the understanding that, in doing so, precision and accuracy in the approach as it would have to be implemented in practice may be lost.

As illustrated inFIG. 51C-51X, multiple chip sets5102, indicated as points, with the previously described capabilities, are dispersed throughout a two-dimension area5100.

To initiate the Delaunay triangulation process, asingle chip set5102, labeled by box [1], is arbitrarily chosen as the starting point by amaster control unit5104 such as described herein which is capable of wirelessly communicating with eachchip set5102. Themaster control unit5104 could be either an external unit (such as shown), or be implemented as a function of one or more chip set(s)5102 within the group (or switching between chip sets within the group) that has (have) the capabilities to also function as amaster control unit5104.

That chip set5102 [1], will either receive a starting address from themaster control unit5104 or will use a pre-programmed or other initially specified starting address. While the starting address could be any value (e.g. the units GPS coordinates), for simplicity of explanation the naming convention will be that the chip set name and starting address are the same, in this case the value, “1”.

The chip set5102 [1] will begin broadcasting in order to find the closest other chip set5102 to it. There are numerous known techniques for determining the distance between two chip sets, such as timing the interval between two pulses or using received signal strength, since it is known that signals decay with distance. The method used in this example, is for the chip set5102 [1] to begin broadcasting a signal at a specific power level, and which includes within data of the signal, the power level, hereafter referred to as a “radio bubble”, a “radio bubble” being indicated inFIG. 51C-51X by dashed concentric circles emanating outward from a point.

In this example, the signal chip set [1] broadcasts out at 3.2 watts is “I am chip set [1] broadcasting at 3.2 watts. Does anybody hear me?” If no chip set5102 is within range then chip set [1] would increase the power level of the broadcast, for example to now broadcast out a signal at 3.3 watts of, “I am chip set [1] broadcasting at 3.3 watts. Does anybody hear me?” If still no chips set responds then the process could repeat, with chip set [1] broadcasting at higher and higher power levels (and change its associated message) until a chip set is discovered or it receives instruction to stop, either from themaster control unit5104 or based upon some pre-established criteria, for example, reaching a certain power level, elapsed time, number of tries, etc. If a second chip set is within range, meaning that the signal it received was above some predetermined threshold level, it would respond back to themaster control unit5104, “I am chip set [X] and I hear chip set [1] broad casting at 3.2 watts, what should I do next?” The value of [X] in this example, that the chip set uses to identify itself, could be any value, including simply some value or indicator that it is a chip set presently without an address. Alternatively, a variant of the approach discussed in connection withFIG. 45C (where a reducedstrength address signal4630 was received) could be used where the chip set will give itself a temporary address, which includes not only its anticipated address (based on a predetermined algorithm such as adding a constant or applying an algorithm to the address value received, or as instructed by the master) but also a measured distance indicator. By way of example, in this particular case, the value of “X” might be “2.3.2”, where the integer to the left of the first decimal point indicates the presumed address (obtained by adding the constant “1” to the address it received) and the numbers to the right of the first decimal indicates the power level as one example of a measured distance indicator. Including a measured distance indicator is particularly helpful in the event that multiple units are responding. Such as, for example, where an approach involving timing the interval between two pulses, rather than radio bubbles, is being used to determine distance. In the case of radio bubbles, since the measured power level is already specified as being included in the message of this example, it is desirable to have the number to the right of the first decimal be an indicator of the trigger threshold level (or the actual calculated distance). For instance, if two chip sets each heard the signal at 3.2 watts, but for one of the two the amplitude of the signal it received was only 0.1 watts, but for the other it was 0.12 watts, the one that received the signal at 0.12 watts is presumed to not only be closer, but the power level above a threshold can be used to more precisely determine its distance. For simplicity of the remainder of the overview explanation being provided herein, only the numbers to the left of the decimal point will be used, with temporary addresses being indicated with a question mark, and the presumption that only one unit at a time will hear a broadcast at a particular power level.

Thus, as shown inFIG. 51C, chip set [1] send out radio bubbles of increasing size until the closest chip set indicated as [2?] responds back that it heard the signal. The measured power level (and threshold level if supplied) can then be used to determine the distance between them and is indicated by theline5106 between those two chip sets.

The two closest chip sets to a particular chip set are special, in that there is no question that they will meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 51D, the [2?] has been changed to [2] to indicate that the chip set [2] should use the address “2” until instructed otherwise and, that it is part of the first triangle. Chip set [2] is then instructed to temporarily stop listening for broadcasts from chip set [1] as indicated by thecircle5108 with a line drawn though it.

Continuing withFIG. 51D, chip set [1] then increases the broadcast power (to increase the size of its radio bubbles) until the next closest chip set [3?] responds and its distance to chip set [1] is determined. Since the second closest chip set [3?] to chip set [1] is special in that it will always complete the first triangle, the address [3?] of that chip set inFIG. 51D has been changed inFIG. 51E to “[3]” and a circumcircle5110 (circle whose circumference contains all three chips) of a firstdetermined triangle5112 has been added.

However, at this point, only the two distances indicated as straight lines from chip set [1] inFIG. 51D are known. In order to completely determine the triangle then the distance between chip set [2] and [3] must be determined. In order to determine the distance between chip sets [2] and [3] all of the other chip sets, except chip sets [2] and [3], are told to temporarily stop listening, as indicate by crossed-out circles over each chip set. Next, as shown inFIG. 51E, either [2] is told to begin broadcasting until it is heard by [3] or [3] will begin broadcasting until it is heard by [2]. Once, the distance between [2] and [3] is determined then thefirst triangle5112 is completely determined.

Once thefirst triangle5112 has been determined, as shown inFIG. 51F, the next step is to determine if there are any additional triangles that can be formed that meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation that include chip set [1]. To do this chip sets [2] and [3] are told to temporarily stop listening and all the other chip sets are told to listen for and respond to a broad cast from chip set [1].

For purposes of this example, it is presumed that eventually chip set [4?] will respond and then thedistance5114 between [1] and [4?] will be determined.

The third closest chip set [4?] is not deemed special and it may or may not form a triangle with chip set [1] that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation, so it has to be tested.

Testing is illustrated inFIG. 51G and involves telling only chip sets that form known triangles with chip set [1], which in this case is chips [1], [2], and [3], to listen for a broadcast from chip set [4?]. Since the nearest chip set to chip set [4?] is chip set [2] in this case, then the distance between [2] and [4?] is determined. However, at this point it is still unknown whether or not a triangle made up of chip sets [1], [2], and [4?] make up atriangle5116 that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation. In order to determine if thattriangle5116 meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation it must be determined whether the second closest chip set that is currently listening set to [4?] is chip set [1]. If it is not chip set [1] then the criteria for Delaunay triangulation will not be met.

As shown inFIG. 51H, in this case the second nearest chip set to [4?] is chip set [1] and therefore the criteria for Delaunay triangulation has been met and so the address of [4?] has become [4] and acircumcircle5118 of thesecond triangle5116 has been indicated.

Once thesecond triangle5116 has been determined, as shown inFIG. 51I, the next step is to once again to determine if there are any additional triangles that can be formed that meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation that include chip set [1]. This time chip sets [2], [3], and [4] are told to temporarily stop listening and all the other chip sets are told to listen for, and respond to a broadcast from chip set [1]. At this point, it is presumed that eventually chip set [5?] will respond and the distance between [1] and [5?] will be determined.

This newly found chip set (as with chip set [4?]) is, once again initially not special and may or may not form a triangle with chip set [1] that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation, so it too has to be tested.

Testing of chip set [5?] involves telling only the chip sets that form known triangles with chip set [1], which in this case is now chip sets [1], [2], [3], and [4], to listen for a broadcast from chip set [5?].

By coincidence, as shown inFIG. 51J, the nearest chip set to chip set [5?] is also chip set [2] and the distance between [2] and [5?] can be determined. However, it is unknown at this point whether or not the triangle made up of chip sets [1], [2], and [5] make up a triangle that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation. In order to determine if the triangle meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation, it must be determined whether the second closest chip set currently listening to chip set [5?] is, in fact, chip set [1]. If it is not chip set [1] then the criteria for Delaunay triangulation will not be met.

As shown inFIG. 51K, the second closest chip set to chip set [5?] is chip set [4], not chip set [1]. Therefore, it is not possible to form a triangle that includes chip set [1] and chip set [5?] that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation.

For reference,FIG. 51L shows all of the circumcircles that include chips sets [1], [5?], and one of the other chip sets (i.e. [2], [3] & [4]). In all cases, at least one other chip set falls within the associated circumcircles and, therefore, none of them meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation.

Once, it is discovered that the next closest chip set, [5?], does not form a triangle that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation, the search for additional triangles associated with chip set [1] can halt because it is now known that there are no more valid triangles that include chip set [1] and meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation. Thus, the next step is to pick one of the peripheral chip sets, either chip set [3] or chip set [4], and start the process all over (i.e. as was done for chip set [1]). A chip set is “peripheral” if it is not included in more than a single triangle. It does not matter which of the chip sets, [3] or [4] is selected, but whichever one must be a peripheral chip set. In other words, chip set [2] cannot be selected because it is not a peripheral point, since [2] is included in more than one of the valid triangles. Actually, in implementation, both peripheral directions (i.e. chip sets [3] and [4]) can (and will likely) be analyzed simultaneously, but for the purposes of this overview, chip set [3] will arbitrarily selected.

Just as was done for chip set [1], the first step is to determine the first and second chip sets that are closest to chip set [3], which just so happens to be the previously established chip sets [1] and [2]. However, they did not necessarily have to be. Once the special case of the first two chip sets is known, the next step would be to look for the third closest chip set just as was done for chip set [1].

However, since it is already known that chip sets [1] and [2] form a valid triangle that includes chip set [3], a short cut can be taken that speeds up the discovery process. An example of the short cut is illustrated inFIG. 51M, in which chip sets [1] and [2] would be told to temporarily stop listening and all other chip sets would listen for a broadcast from chip set [3]. The closest chip set in this example is, once again coincidentally, chip set [5?] and the distance between chip set [3] and [5?] is determined. Since, following that determination the distance between [3] and [5?] is known to be greater than the distance between chip sets [3] and [1], and also chip sets [3] and [2], it is automatically known that chip sets [1] and [2] are the two closest chip sets to [3]. If this were not the case, for example because [5] was a closer chip than either one or both of chip set [1] or [2] then chip set [3] would use radio bubbles of increasing size as originally discussed in connection with chip set [1] to find the second closest chip sets to it, which would then form the first triangle. However, since this is not the case, once the first triangle is determined for chip set [3], as shown inFIG. 51N, the next step is to test if it is possible to form a triangle using chip set [5?], which was just established to be the third closest chip set.

Again, testing involves telling only chip sets that form known triangles with chip set [3], which in this case is chips [1], [2], and [3] to listen for a broadcast from chip set [5?]. The nearest chip set to chip set [5?] is chip set [2] in this case, and the distance between [2] and [5?] is determined. However, it is unknown at this point whether or not the triangle made up of chip sets [3], [2], and [5?] make up a triangle that meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation. In order to determine if it meets the criteria for Delaunay triangulation it must be determined whether the second closest chip set that is currently listening to chip set [5?] is chip set [3]. If it is not chip set [3] then the criteria for Delaunay triangulation will not be met. As shown inFIG. 51O, chip set [3] was, in fact, determined to be the second closest chip set currently listening, and therefore the criteria for Delaunay triangulation has been met and the address of [5?] changed to [5] and acircumcircle5120 for the third triangle is indicated.

The process likewise continues in a similar manner, as shown inFIGS. 51P-51X for chip sets [6] and [7] and would t keep being repeated until all of the triangles that meet the criteria for Delaunay triangulation have been identified for all of the chip sets.

Once all of the Delaunay triangles have been determined for all of the chop sets, then an origin and coordinate system can be specified for the chip sets and all of the chip sets can either be interrelated based upon, for example, their relative position or readdressed to an imposed coordinate system position, the benefit of which will be explained below.

At this point, it should be noted that, in the example ofFIGS. 51C-51X, the triangulation was performed without respect to a particular coordinate system. This is because, regardless of the rotation of the chip sets inFIG. 51A in the plane, the result of the Delaunay triangulation would be the same. By triangulating one or more chip sets to an external source, or a single chip set to more than one external sources, an actual physical coordinate system can be established such that the relationship or readdressing could reflect the actual, rather than the relative, position of each chip set.

Self-addressing using the actual physical or relative address can make things simpler than simply addressing using

numbers

1, 2, 3 . . . etc. and can provide advantageous benefits as well. This can be demonstrated with reference toFIGS. 52A-52B, which illustrate, in simplified form, a display constructed according to the teachings herein incorporating multiple base unit printed circuit boards5230-1,5230-2,5230-3 (only three of which are shown) each havingmultiple pairs5240 ofluminaires120 on them. For this configuration, while it is helpful to know, for example, that the base unit5230-1 is, within the overall display, the third board from the left in the tube forming the second row and has, for example, address103, and it is even more helpful to know that base unit5230-1 has the multi-dimensional address ofrow 2column3, it is far more helpful to know that base unit5230-1 spans physical locations “630” through “739” and that it has been self-addressed with the physical address of its first luminaire, “630”, or possibly multi-dimensionally addressed with both its starting and ending address.

The most basic reason that the physical address is then more helpful is because, without having to do any sort of translation, each of the base units5230-1,5230-2,5230-3 can now capture specific data directly from the data steam that is related to someindividual luminaire120 in the display within their address range without regard to any data for any other luminaire on any other base unit. However, that is not all. Advantageously, even greater power can be realized when self-addressing that incorporates the actual physical or relative address is used, because it adds the ability to track changes in base unit position. Accordingly, if a chip set on a base unit5230-1,5230-2,5230-3 has the ability to track changes in its position then it can dynamically readdress if the position changes beyond a specified amount. This can allow it to make corrections to what it displays based upon that position change (i.e. that would otherwise detrimentally affect what would be seen on the display). For example, inFIG. 52A, there are two shapes being displayed, a narrow vertical rectangularblack bar5210 displayed by the luminaires on the top two base unit printed circuit boards5230-1,5230-2 and adiagonal grey bar5220 displayed by theluminaires120 of all three base unit printed circuit boards5230-1,5230-2,5230-3 ofFIG. 51A, with then-unused luminaires120 shown in white. InFIG. 52A, the base unit boards5230 are all in perfect alignment and the desired display is therefore properly shown on the display.

In contrast, for example due to temperature-induced expansion in the second row, the center printed circuit board5230-2 has been shifted to the right inFIG. 52B. If the printed circuit boards5230 were to continue to use the exactsame luminaires120 to show the shapes as it did inFIG. 52A, then the desired display would not be accurately shown.

Advantageously, as shown inFIG. 52B, using an approach where the circuit boards5230-1,5230-2,5230-3 know their location in space relative to some fixed point means that the base unit printed circuit board5230-2 is able to know that it has moved to the right beyond a certain threshold and can readdress such that the data goes to theluminaires120 in the now-proper position instead of the shiftedluminaires120 that would previously had displayed that data.

As a second example,FIG. 53 illustrates, in simplified form multiple light strand-

type lighting displays

5300,5300′, constructed using tubes and the teachings described herein, hanging in front of a building. At this point, as an aside, it is worth noting that this is a prime example of one advantage of constructing a lighting display using the teachings herein, it can (depending upon the particular implementation) be serviced directly from theroof5306 or from a height just above entry-door5308 height, which would be safer (and potentially less costly) than having to service particular parts at whatever height they were located.

In any event, the light strand-

type lighting displays

5300,5300′ are, in all material respects, identical except one of thedisplays5300′ is subject to wind buffeting and, being affixed at only the top and bottom, is shown as being subject tooscillation5304 in between.

While the use of radio bubbles to determine position and or movement from an initial position may be sufficient for detecting a slow shift over time, as inFIG. 52B, that approach is insufficient for the type of transient and potentially rapid movement exemplified inFIG. 53.

One known method of rapidly calculating displacement of an object is with accelerometers. Using an accelerometer, displacement of the device containing the accelerometer can be calculated based on the fact that acceleration is the time derivative of velocity, and velocity is the time derivative of distance. Therefore, assuming the devices are equipped with triple-axis accelerometers, one can, through the process of double integration, continuously calculate positions in real space as a device is moved. Further, adding a gyroscope allows gravity to be subtracted out, and/or filtering to be performed based on expected movements like ignoring vertical shifts that shift the entire display uniformly, such as due to normal seasonal temperature changes, or filtering out any directional component that is not purely horizontal motion inFIG. 53, can greatly increase the precision of the measurement. Since some variants of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 include accelerometer(s)4236 and agyroscope4238, they can be used in this application.

Additionally or alternatively, if two accelerometers are placed at a fixed distance apart, for example at opposite ends of a base unit board, then they can be used to determine rotation, eliminating the need for agyroscope4230. Techniques for using two accelerometers, spaced a fixed distance apart, to determine rotation are known in the art and thus need not be described herein. Nevertheless, one example source of that teaching can be found in Tuck, Kimberly. “Tilt sensing using linear accelerometers.” Freescale Semiconductor Application Note AN3107 (2007), the entirety of which incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Thus, if a graphic is shown using the light strand-

type lighting displays

5300,5300′, and the overall image is wider than the display, then, using the techniques described herein, the oscillation of astrand5300′ would allow the displayed image to be viewed in a non-jittering fashion, much like what would happen if one were to view a scene through a vertical slit in a piece of cloth from a nominal distance away from the cloth. If the vertical edge(s) of the slit were to jitter slightly, the viewed scene would still be clear to the viewer, by the scenery visible at the periphery of the slit might change slightly.

Yet another example of an approach for dealing with display changes based upon the components knowing their location is illustrated, in simplified form, inFIG. 54A, which shows multiple chip sets of adisplay54 that usewireless communication5410 to establish their physical distance between one another and then use their relative location within the grid to self address. As a result, onechip set5402 determines, in an array that addresses from top-to-bottom and left-to-right with address values: 1, 4, 7, 10, etc., that its address is [4,4] and, consequently, each of the chip sets around it then address relative to that chip set5402 such that they have the addresses as shown, for example, chip set5408 would self-address with the address [4,10]. Thus, it should be understood that another advantage is that such self-addressing can be performed starting with any chip set.

FIG. 54B illustrates, in simplified form, how, by using self-addressing that inherently includes an address gap, positional changes can be accounted for. Specifically,FIG. 54B illustrates this with reference to three

chip sets

5402,5404,5406 in the same row of thedisplay54 respectively having starting self-addresses of: [4,4], [4,2], and [4,7] and presuming that each of these chip sets5402,5404,5406 include an accelerometer. For purposes of simplicity of explanation, presume that each chip set in the display controls luminaires120 (not shown) that display a portion of an image (which may be static like a picture or dynamic like video) initially within the 3×3grid5412 indicated by dashed lines and, within the data stream containing the data that would make up the image, data is sent corresponding to a 3×3 grid of addresses corresponding to both the self-addressed addresses and to the addresses within the gaps between chip sets.

Once the initial self-addresses are established for all of the chip sets then anaccelerometer5400 in each chip set is used thereafter to determine any position changes. As a result, if for example, onechip set5402 moves from location to another there is a corresponding dynamic readdressing of the self-address such that the chip set will always be responding to the information addressed to its current location and display the information appropriate for the corresponding 3×3 grid. As such, with respect to that chip set5402, in its initial position, it would capture data from the data stream for the portion of the display corresponding to grid locations:

- (3,3), (3,4), (3,5)
- (4,3), (4,4), (4,5)
- (5,3), (5,4), (5,5)

However, if thechip set5402 were to shift to the left beyond a certain threshold amount, itsnew position5414 would result in self-addressing to a new address [4,3] and begin capturing data for the portion of the image corresponding to the 3×3 grid for the portion of the display corresponding to grid locations:

- (3,2), (3,3), (3,4)
- (4,2), (4,3), (4,4)
- (5,2), (5,3), (5,4)

Likewise, if thechip set5402 were to shift to diagonally from its original position, or from its left-shifted position up, beyond a certain threshold amount, itsnew position5416 would now self-address to a new address [3,3] and begin capturing data for the portion of the image corresponding to the 2×3 grid (because it is near the upper edge of the display54) for the portion of the display corresponding to grid locations:

- (2,2), (2,3), (2,4)
- (3,2), (3,3), (3,4)
- (4,2), (4,3), (4,4)

As should now be appreciated, the same process would occur if the chip set moved right to a new position to the right5418, then to either aposition5420 further to the right or to aposition5422 that is on a down and right diagonal from the initial position or below the firstright position5418.

At this point it should be noted that the example has presumed a case where all of the other chip sets (i.e.5404,5406,5408, etc.) of the display, or in a common tube shifted homogeneously and the 3×3 grids were non-overlapping. However, advantageously, if the chip sets (for example a variant of chip set4200 ofFIG. 42) include appropriate chip-to-chip communication and programming, then the chip sets could periodically poll their nearest neighbors for their addresses and, according to a specified protocol, if the addresses of two adjacent chip sets result in part of their display areas being overlapping, one of the two can intelligently disregard data for the overlapping area such that proper display registration is maintained.

This aspect will be discussed with brief reference back to the flag-type display3000 ofFIG. 30A. With such adisplay3000, it should be recognized that, if the tubes are not rigidly connected together width-wise, it could be irregularly undulating in space. Using the foregoing teachings, it is possible to create such adisplay3000 that presented a consistent image (or image stream) when viewed from a particular distance and perspective angle relative to thedisplay3000. This is discussed with reference toFIGS. 55A-55D, which illustrate, in simplified form, image correction of a moving display constructed according to the teachings herein.

Specifically,FIG. 55A illustrates, in simplified form, an enlarged section of the flag-type display3000 ofFIG. 30A.FIG. 55B illustrates, in simplified form, is a side view of that flag-type display3000 in itsnormal position5500, which is simply freely hanging vertically.FIG. 55C illustrates, in simplified form, the flag-type display3000 after it has been temporarily blown to anew position5502 by the wind.

FIG. 55D illustrates, in simplified form, how the shift from oneposition5500 to another5502 can be handle in the manner described in connection withFIG. 54B. This is shown inFIG. 55D, wherein the flag-type display3000 includes base units with controllers that can self-address relative to a fixed point and is designed such that the fixed point is a position at somedistance5510 and particular angular perspective550, and the image that will be displayed is optimized so that theentire image5530 is visible from that distance and perspective.

Accordingly, by having base units in thedisplay3000 that readdress as their position changes due to the wind, atruncated version5532 of theimage5530 would be visible from the fixed point as thenew view5522 instead of a distorted/compressed image5534 that might otherwise be seen from that fixed point. In order to perform image correction, the three-dimensional changes in position are tracked by the base units, for example, as described above in order to correct the image such that an uncompressed and undistorted image is always displayed on a two-dimensional grid5540, corresponding to thenormal position5500 of then display, when viewed from thatdistance5510 andangular perspective5500.

As such, when viewed from that point, as thedisplay3000 moves back and forth in the wind, the image will not appear to move, but the amount of the image shown at bottom of the display will simply move up and down (i.e. be truncated or “obscured” to varying degrees) rather than the whole image becoming compressed and distorted.

Moreover, this technique for correcting a graphical display back to a two-dimensional grid when viewed from a particular distance and perspective is exactly the same technique that can be used to dynamically correct the image produced by the previously mentioned strand of lights hung in a tree that is being blown in the wind.

A further example of application of three-dimensional dynamic self-addressing would be the application involving attendees at a concert. Recall that approach used independent self-addressing to turn smart phones in the venue into a single graphical display based upon a fixed position involving, for example, the person's seat number as the self-address. However, if the person changes position between sitting/standing, are particularly tall or short, raises their phone high above their head, or moves their phone back and forth swaying to the music, either alone or along with others nearby, simply using seat might number might not be sufficient to create the desired display in an undistorted way. Again, using the teachings herein regarding three-dimensional dynamic self-addressing, those situations and positional changes can be accounted for to varying degrees, depending upon the particular device each individual has and its capabilities.

FIG. 56 illustrates, in simplified form, an example of aconcert venue56 configured to take advantage of the teachings herein. As shown, thevenue56 has bothseating areas5600 andnon-seating areas5610, which may be aisles or areas, where attendees with general admission tickets can be located, from which the concert can be viewed. Presuming that most of the attendees havesmart phones5620 that internally incorporate positioning capabilities of some form (e.g. accelerometers, GPS, etc.), that they have an appropriate application running on the phone that has stored, or can receive display image data, and are located throughout theseating areas5600. In addition, presume that themesh5630 overlaying theseating areas5600 represents the area for the entire desired three-dimensionalgraphical display5630 and is broken up into appropriately addressed sub grids. Depending upon the particular implementation, smart phone(s) and image, data for the entire mesh or some portion thereof (perhaps based upon ticketed seat location) could be, for example, pre-loaded prior to the concert, it could be automatically downloaded following entry into the concert venue, it could be downloaded once the user triggers a position identification action or following self-addressing, it could be dynamically received during the concert.

Rather than thesmart phones5620 triangulating their position relative to one another, which is possible, in actual practice it may be simpler for the event goers to aim the smart phones camera at a knowntarget5640, equipped withindicators5650 and situated in known locations, and to triangulate the exact physical location of eachsmart phone5620 within thevenue56 and respectively use, a value representing each's location relative to thetarget5640 as the starting self-address. As should already be understood from the preceding examples, the use of triangulation is a much more robust form of independent self-addressing than simply using the seat number. Additionally, the venue would have amaster control unit5660 that would be configured to functionally interact with the application on the smart phones, according to the teachings herein.

Thus, once the initial self-address had been determined by each of the smart phones, the accelerometers and other position indicators within each smart phone would take over and, working in conjunction with the application as the smart phone was moved within different cell locations within the three-dimensionalgraphical display5630, the smart phones would dynamically readdress themselves using their new physical location. Therefore, regardless of movement of a particular smart phone, that smart phone would always be able to display the proper graphic information for it as instructed bymaster control unit5660. Advantageously, by applying the teachings herein, even if the movement was such that the potential error in determining location was above some predetermined threshold, such as if an attendee moves to a new section, leaves the seating area to go to the bathroom and then returns, or simply wanders to a non seating area to get a better view, wherever they are in the venue, their phone could dynamically adjust the display of data to properly correspond to the new or changing location (if slow enough) by automatically re-self-addressing or following some action by the user in response to a prompt, for example, a message whereby the user is instructed to retarget from their new location using one of thetargets5640 in the venue.

Further refinements of dynamic readdressing within the concert display include not only tracking displacement but also orientation using information from the smart phones gyroscope so that, unless the display of the smart phone is pointed in the general direction of the stage, based upon some pre-established criteria, then the display would not be shown (e.g. it could temporarily go dark). For example, if the concert goer turned around to see what was behind them, as it would not be desirable for the people behind them to see that person's display, as they would ideally be trying to view the display on, for example, the opposite side of the arena.

The use of independent self-addressing, where a smart phone, base unit/chip set is able to independently determine its physical location, such as in the concert venue example just discussed, it should now be recognized, is incredibly powerful, particularly when paired with multi-dimensional self-addressing, where one dimension is the physical address and another dimension is the self-address generated from being a known part of the system, referred to herein as “complex self-addressing”. This pairing makes applications possible that go beyond mere graphical displays, for example, as shown inFIG. 57, which illustrates, in simplified form, an example application of complex self-addressing. As shown inFIG. 57, there are a plurality of

units

57,57′,57″ that have functional capabilities consistent with the teachings herein and, at the very least could correspond to the functions of base units described herein that include a variant of the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42. The chip sets57,57′, and57″ are assumed to be the same and have the same capabilities, however, they will perform different functions based upon the signals that they are able to receive and what they are connected to. In this particular case, it is presumed that instructions and/or data (hereafter an “instruction set”) will originate from aremote source5702, for example a computer or server, and be transmitted via a communication network (which may be the internet, a cellular network, or some other source (the particular source being unimportant to understanding these teachings)) wirelessly. In this example, it is desired that theremote source5702 be able control, through the instructions set5710, an AD/TV display5700 within a below ground transit system that cannot directly receive theinstruction set5710. However, through radio bubbles, or other wireless (or wired) communications techniques, theunit57″ is presumed able to communicate with a series ofunits57′, using a repeatedsignal5720, but is assumed to not be able to directly communicate with aunit57 that can receive theinstruction set5710 from thesource5702, nor is it assumed to be able to determine its physical location through using GPS or other methods of physical location determination, but it is assumed that at least oneunit57′ is able to communicate with theunit57 that receives theinstruction set5710 from thesource5702 using the repeatedsignal5720 and at least oneunit57′ is able to communicate with thedestination unit57″ using repeatedsignal5720. Additionally, it is also assumed that none of theunits57′ are able to determine their physical location through using GPS or other methods of physical location determination.

Since theunit57 is the only chip set that can both receive theinstruction set5710 and determine its physical location using GPS or other methods of physical location determination it will independently self-address, for example, using its physical coordinates based on start up instructions or based on instructions provided within theinstruction set5710.

As sent, theinstruction set5710 is intended for theunit57″ connected to the AD/TV display5700 to provide image information that the AD/TV display5700 is intended to show. This will initially involve a broadcast from thesource5702 that is looking for a chip set with an independent self-address located in the vicinity of a physical location that is connected to the AD/TV display5700. Since theonly unit57″ that fits the requirement cannot receive the signal because it is underground, there will be no response. Thesource5702 will then broadcast that it is looking for a unit in the vicinity of that location that is able to act as a repeater, and is able to connect to one or more other units in the vicinity.

In this particular example, asingle unit57 would be the only one to respond, by providing afeedback transmission5730 back to the source, which includes its physical location. As an aside, if more than one unit responded to thesource5702, then thesource5702 could select the most appropriate unit, for example, by using the physical location data or according to some protocol whereby all would try to establish a connection to the ultimate destination as described below and, according to some criteria, for example, the first one to do so, the one that does so with the fewest “hops” or lowest latency, etc.

Returning to the example, since only oneunit57 responds to thesource5702, thatunit57 would then be instructed to act as a master control unit as described herein and to begin the process of creating a self-addressed communication network to a unit that is connected to the AD/TV display5700 using a second dimensional address, assuming that the independent self-address is the first dimension. Theunits57′ would then be self-addressed, for example, using the protocol inFIG. 44A-44F (or its equivalent) or through triangulation or other techniques of computational geometry in order to establish a communication path to theunit57″, which is connected to AD/TV display5700.

As another aside, it is to be noted that, in a situation like the one described, in establishing a connection to the end point, it may be necessary to have the units invoke a “transferring master control” procedure since a single master control unit may not be able to reach all the way to the intended destination. In such a case, once the first master control unit reaches out as far as it can go and has still not discovered the intended destination unit at the end point, that master control unit would then instruct one or more of the units it had discovered to take over the role of a master control unit and to continue to build a self-addressing communication network looking for the destination unit at the end point (which will typically, although not necessarily, transfer all of the information to the secondary master control unit regarding the unit(s) that the first master control unit had already discovered). The self-addressing of this secondary master control unit could either be a continuation of the current dimensional self-addressing or involve self-addressing on a new dimension. Once the new master control unit has either discovered the intended destination unit at the end point or reached the end of the line without success, then the secondary master control unit would communicate back to the original master control unit all of the resulting information regarding further units it discovered (or, in aggregate, all of the information for all discovered units it had, even if some were transferred to it by a master control unit). The original master control unit would then either take further action by appointing another secondary master control unit or providefeedback transmission5730 back to thesource5702 and wait for additional instructions.

Once the intended destination unit at theend point57″ has been discovered and self-addressed, an indication of that fact, in some fashion, will be transmitted back to the master control unit (potentially through a secondary master control unit, or a further removed tertiary, etc. master control unit) using a repeatedsignal5720 transferred from theend unit57″ via eachintermediate unit57′ to theinitial unit57. Once thatinitial unit57 receives the indication, then it will transfer the address information of theend unit57″ back to the source as afeedback transmission5730. In other words, once this happens, it is the simple equivalent of directing data to a specific base unit within a specific tube of a display as described above.

Thus, when theinstruction set5710 is directed to theunit57″ associated with thedisplay5700, it can simply say to the unit with a physical dimension address that corresponds to that previously stored for theunit57, to please repeat the following instructions to the chip set at the network dimension address that corresponds to the previously determined address for theend point unit57″ (which may include several other dimensional addresses if secondary master control units or greater relationships were utilized).

It should now be noted that the use of multi-dimensional addressing not only allows a message to be efficiently repeated in order to be passed onto their intended target, but it also allows intervening base units to be replaced, for example in the event of a failure, relocation of a unit, or some other action, without any knowledge of any other base unit with which it may interact. The new or relocated unit can then be self-addressed using information provided by its neighbors and, therefore, the system can begin working (or, to the extent self addressing can establish an alternate path through the techniques described herein, will continue to work) without any special address setting effort or knowledge of the location(s) and/or address(es) of nearby base units on the part of the technician installing it.

It should also be noted that, in the example ofFIG. 57, theunits57′ may or may not be acting as simply a repeater. They could, for example, have also had their own AD/TV display5700 attached to them and been previously self-addressed. In this circumstance the instructions to create the communication network would have been to look for “an un-addressed” unit that is connected to the AD/TV display5700, rather than simply “a” unit that is connected to the AD/TV display5700.

It should be further noted that the display itself5700 could be a display constructed and/or self-addressed according to then teachings herein, or it could be a conventional display operating in a conventional manner.

In this example, the

units

57,57′, and57″ are assumed to be purely reactionary (i.e. they cannot initiate the discovery process. However, that is not necessarily the case. With some implementations, the units could be “smart” and the self-addressing process could work in reverse. For example, upon power up, oneunit57″ could recognize that it is connected to AD/TV display5700 and know that it is supposed to communicate with asource5702 using afeedback transmission5730, but its attempts prove to be unsuccessful. It would then initiate a protocol whereby it will try to form a communication network back to the desiredsource5702. To do so, it would broadcast out using arepeater signal5720 that it is a currently unaddressed chip set, since it was not even able to independently self-address, and that it is looking to join a communication network that has the ability to communicate, using afeedback transmission5730, back to thesource5702 and, thereby, receive aninstruction set5710 directed to it. Thefirst unit57′ that it discovered may already be a part of a communication network that has the appropriate capabilities, in which case the initiatingunit57″ at thedisplay5700 would become addressed as part of that communication network.

However, if thefirst unit57′ discovered was not already a part of the network, then it could either (a) begin to form a self-addressed communication network with thoseunits57′ in close proximity to it, or (b) try to reach out farther and farther until it found one that was already in a communication network connected to thesource5702.

In implementations using the reverse process, the most common protocol is expected to be to try to establish a self-address by first using the most direct means of communication available, which is wired communication, if available. If wired communication is not available then to proceed up the line and try wireless transmitter receiver pairs and if still unsuccessful to use two-way wireless communication channel. However, any other protocol appropriate for the particular application and implementation can be used, the particular protocol or hierarchy being unimportant to understanding the teachings herein.

It should now be understood that independent self-addressing, especially when paired with a self-addressing repeater communication network is a powerful tool that can have applications and be extended beyond display technology.

Using a unit employing, for example, the chip set4200 ofFIG. 42 as a universal self-addressing unit capable of performing the functions of a master, slave, and/or repeater according to the teachings herein, diverse non-display-related networks can advantageously be created on an ad hoc basis.

One representative example application is monitoring.FIG. 58A illustrates, in simplified form, an independent self-addressing “geo”stick5800 configured for self-addressing, and communicating with a master control unit, according to teachings herein that can monitor for, for example, seismic, weather, climate or other activity.FIG. 58B illustrates, in simplified form,

internal sensors

5802,5804 of thegeo stick5800, andFIG. 58C illustrates asolar array5806, on the cap of thegeo stick5800 that, in this example, allows it to be self-powered. In use,multiple geo sticks5800 are placed into the ground at various locations and take readings using its

sensors

5802,5804,5808 (e.g. motion, temperature, humidity and/or other sensors) through various I/O channels and report back to a master control unit sensor-measured related to seismic activity or electrical discharge indicative of an earthquake or other weather or climate phenomena.

FIGS. 59A-59B illustrate, in simplified form, another example application for monitoring remote equipment according to the teachings herein. As shown inFIG. 59A, the remote equipment shelter can be configured with the chip set4200 to take local readings relating to the equipment there and, as shown inFIG. 59B, using self-addressing according to the teachings herein to discover other remote equipment in the field that may be suitably equipped with anotherchip set4200 and report resulting monitoring information back to a master control unit. Advantageously, as new equipment is deployed or equipment is taken off line, goes down or is moved, through implementation of self-addressing according to the teachings herein, monitoring can adaptively continue.

Other applications of the self-address techniques discussed include those represented inFIG. 60-FIG. 62, which also use chip set42 ofFIG. 42 as a universal self-addressing unit capable of performing the functions of a master, slave, and/or repeater.

FIG. 60 illustrates, in simplified form, yet another application of the teachings herein that allows for more simplified 3D image capture of

objects

6002,6004. With this application,multiple cameras6000, incorporating appropriate capabilities as described for variants herein, for example, one variant of chip set4200 ofFIG. 42, are deployed about theobject6002 to be imaged and wirelessly self-addressed using either their physical or relational address to one another. Advantageously, due to the self-addressing, the cameras can be deployed by relatively unskilled technicians without rigorous consideration of the terrain. Thecameras6000 take synchronized pictures based upon instructions of a master control unit (which may be either one of the chip sets4200 in a camera (as shown) or separate master control unit located somewhere nearby (not shown). By using the teachings herein, knowing the exact location of the camera is possible and dynamically re-addressing due to any small changes in position that occur, the photographs taken could then be used for creating three-dimensional images of the objects in the photographs. Moreover, since the cameras can re-self-address, it is even possible to do this with only two cameras, by having one remain in a fixed location and having the other self-address and take new pictures each time it is moved. Still further, this approach allows for 3D imaging of objects in areas that are not readily accessible for that purpose, for example, in relatively inaccessible rugged terrain. In such a case, the cameras could be placed at locations about the object to be imaged by simply lowering them, for example using a helicopter, to points where they can be steady. Then, they can be instructed to self-address, take pictures and be removed or moved to a new location.

FIG. 61 illustrates, in simplified form, essentially a reversal of the process ofFIG. 60. As shown inFIG. 61, instead of multiple cameras,multiple projectors6100 that incorporate wireless self-addressing technology and techniques as described herein use either their physical or relational address to one another and produce asynchronized display6104 through the instructions of a master control unit (which, as in the previous examples) may be an integral part of thecapabilities6102 of aprojector6100 or it may be a separately located master control unit as described herein (not shown). Alternatively, the same graphical display could have been created by a bank of monitors or TVs that were all wirelessly self-addressed using either their physical or relational address to one another in order to produce a synchronized display.

FIG. 62 illustrates, in simplified form, arestaurant6200 bringing together many of the teachings herein and/or extensions thereof. InFIG. 62, an externalLED Display Board6202, constructed using one of the variants herein, is independently self-addressed using its GPS or other physical positioning device capabilit(y/ies) and is configured to be able to wirelessly receive instructions from a regional headquarters regarding what to display. In addition, it not only determines its own display, it is also configured to act as a repeater for the rest of the control units in close proximity to it and, in this case, to other branches of the same restaurant within range.

The rest of the control units of therestaurant6200 include outdoordigital menu boards6204 that are both self-addressed, as part of the system controlled by the instructions repeated by theLED Display Board6202, and are self-addressed on a separate dimension to differentiate among themselves. Inside the restaurant there is a DigitalMenu Display Group6206, that can similarly be self-addressed and receive instructions repeated by theLED Display Board6202, and are also self-addressed on a separate dimension, presumably based upon either their physical or relative location to one another, so that a set of images (static or dynamic) appear to periodically rotate through the displays in round-robin fashion. Finally, there are two independent Digital Advertisement Displays6208 located in therestaurant6200, which are also self-addressed but may or may not be displaying content specific to thatrestaurant6200, for example, one or more may be paid advertising from a related partner or local community-related information provided by the local camber of commerce, town hall or school system.

Note here that, while theLED Display Board6202 was specified as the repeater, advantageously, if one (or more) of thedigital menu boards6204, a display the DigitalMenu Display Group6206, and/or one or more of the Digital Advertisement Displays6208 contained suitable control unit capabilities, any of those control units capable of wirelessly receiving the instructions from the regional headquarters could have functioned as a repeater. Alternatively, with suitable capabilities presumably all of the units could have independently received their respective instructions without the need for a repeater.

According to an atypical variant approach to the techniques described herein different control units can be allowed to self-address with the same address value. This will allow a subset of the control units to act in “party line” fashion. In this manner, if it is known that it will always be desired that such a subset will always need to receive the same data a single address could be used to do so instead of redundantly sending the same data to each's discrete address. Alternatively, or additionally, if there was some need to communicate with only one, if feedback from each is separate and two way, a simple command could be sent via the feedback line to specific units to “ignore” information addressed to them and those that did not receive the “ignore” command would receive the data. Depending upon the particular implementation, the feedback line could then again be used to stop the ignoring or the units could be placed in a state whereby receipt of an address to them following the “ignore” command would un-set the ignore, meaning that unit it would not see the packet addressed to it that un-set the ignore, but would see each thereafter again.

Finally, it is to be understood that various different variants of the invention, including representative embodiments and extensions have been presented to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that such implementations are not to be considered limitations on either the invention or equivalents except to the extent they are expressly in the claims. It should therefore be understood that, for the convenience of the reader, the above description has only focused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible permutations, combinations or variations of the invention, since others will necessarily arise out of combining aspects of different variants described herein to form new variants, through the use of particular hardware or software, or through specific types of applications in which the invention can be used. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the description, or that further undescribed alternate or variant embodiments may be available for a portion of the invention, is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate or variant embodiments to the extent they also incorporate the minimum essential aspects of the invention, as claimed in the appended claims, or an equivalent thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A monitoring and reporting system comprising:

a master control unit;

multiple geographically dispersed monitor units, each comprising

a base unit including a self addressing radio controller repeater having at least

a microcontroller,

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and

a multi-band communications transceiver;

multiple sensors, communicatively coupled to the base unit, including at least

one motion sensor,

one temperature sensor, and

one electrical sensor;

wherein each of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units self-addresses using address information from multiple dimensions according to complex self-addressing;

wherein each of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units communicate with at least one other of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units so as to collectively form an ad hoc network;

wherein at least a first of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units operates as a repeater with respect to communications received by the first of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units from either or both of (i) a second of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units located at an equipment location, or (ii) the master control unit; and

wherein the second of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units will take local readings, using its sensors, and report at least one of the local readings to the master control unit via the repeater.

2. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein a third of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units is the master control unit.

3. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 2, further comprising at least one instruction set, sent by the master control unit to the second control unit, via at least the first control unit, for execution by the second control unit.

4. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises at least one of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a compass.

5. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second geographically dispersed monitor units is battery powered.

6. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second geographically dispersed monitor units is solar powered.

7. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second or third geographically dispersed monitor units is powered by line power.

8. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein at least some of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units communicate with others of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units using radio bubbles.

9. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein one of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units is capable of operating as one or more of a master control unit, a slave control unit or a repeater based upon signals it receives and any other of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units to which it is connected.

10. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein one dimension of the address information includes a physical address.

11. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein one dimension of the address information includes a generated self-address.

12. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein the multi-band communications transceiver implements a network communication protocol.

13. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, further comprising a cell phone communication chip set that allows the base unit to communicate with an other base unit via a cellular network.

14. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one instruction set sent by the master control unit, via at least the first control unit, for execution by the second control unit.

15. The monitoring and reporting system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple geographically dispersed monitor units is:

a part of a visual display;

a geo stick;

a part of a remote equipment shelter; or

a part of a remote field pump.