IP Library Granted Patent US 11,783,735
Granted Patent B2
US 11,783,735 · App. 17/892,675 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Face cover for a display module

Inventor: Kenneth Parker Lawley (Moorhead, MN)
Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
G09F9/33G06F3/147
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,783,735
App. No.
17/892,675
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display module comprises light-emitting elements coupled to one or more mounting structures and grouped into a pixels in a pixel array on a display face to display textual, graphical, or video information, with each pixel comprising a grouping of one or more light-emitting elements. A face cover is mounted to the mounting structure and is positioned in front of at least a portion of the display face. The face cover comprises a plurality of moguls arranged in a mogul array with each mogul positioned in front of and proximate to a corresponding one of the pixels so that the mogul covers at least a portion of the corresponding pixel, and one or more light-emitting openings in each mogul, each positioned relative to one or more corresponding light-emitting element of the pixel to permit light emitted from the corresponding one or more light-emitting elements to pass through the mogul.

Claims (30)

1. A display module comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements coupled to one or more mounting structures;

Wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are grouped into a plurality of pixels each comprising a grouping of one or more of the plurality of light-emitting elements, the pixels arranged in a pixel array on a display face to display one or more of textual, graphical, or video information;

a face cover mounted to the one or more mounting structures and positioned in front of at least a portion of the display face, the face cover comprising:

a set of one or more light-emitting openings for each of the plurality of pixels, each set of one or more light-emitting openings is positioned relative to a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels to permit light emitted from the grouping of one or more of the light-emitting elements of the corresponding pixel to pass through the face cover; and

a plurality of bores in the face cover, each bore surrounding at least a portion of a corresponding light-emitting opening, wherein each bore comprises at least one beveled portion to control a viewing angle in at least one direction from the corresponding light-emitting opening.

2. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one beveled portion is beveled at a bevel angle that corresponds to the viewing angle in the at least one direction.

3. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one beveled portion of each bore comprises a first beveled portion positioned in a first direction relative to the corresponding light-emitting opening and a second beveled portion positioned in a second direction relative to the corresponding light-emitting opening, wherein the first beveled portion is beveled at a first bevel angle corresponding to a first viewing angle for the first direction and the second beveled portion is beveled at a second bevel angle corresponding to a second viewing angle for the second direction.

4. A display module according to claim 3 , wherein the first beveled portion is beveled at a first bevel angle corresponding to a first viewing angle for the first direction and the second beveled portion is beveled at a second bevel angle corresponding to a second viewing angle for the second direction.

5. A display module according to claim 3 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

6. A display module according to claim 3 , wherein the first direction is a horizontal or generally horizontal direction and the second direction is a vertical or generally vertical direction.

7. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the face cover protects the plurality of light-emitting elements and the supporting electronics from damage due to impact from an object striking the display face of the display.

8. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the face cover provides for improved contrast of the textual, graphical, or video information displayed by the light-emitting elements.

9. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the face cover comprises a plurality of moguls arranged in a mogul array, wherein each mogul is positioned in front of a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels so that the mogul covers at least a portion of the corresponding one of the plurality of pixels.

10. A display module according to claim 1 , wherein the face cover comprises one or more alignment structures to align the light-emitting elements in a specified orientation relative to a corresponding one of the one or more light-emitting openings.

11. A display module according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more alignment structures are coupled to a rear face of the face cover.

12. A display module comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements coupled to one or more mounting structures;

wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are grouped into a plurality of pixels each comprising a grouping of one or more of the plurality of light-emitting elements, the pixels arranged in a pixel array on a display face to display one or more of textual, graphical, or video information;

a face cover mounted to the one or more mounting structures and positioned in front of at least a portion of the display face, the face cover comprising:

a set of one or more light-emitting openings for each of the plurality of pixels, each set of one or more light-emitting openings is positioned relative to a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels to permit light emitted from the grouping of one or more of the light-emitting elements of the corresponding pixel to pass through the face cover; and

a plurality of bores in the face cover, each bore surrounding at least a portion of a corresponding light-emitting opening, wherein each bore comprises a first beveled portion positioned in a first direction relative to the corresponding light-emitting opening to control a first viewing angle in the first direction from the corresponding light-emitting opening and a second beveled portion positioned in a second direction relative to the corresponding light-emitting opening to control a second viewing angle in the second direction from the corresponding light-emitting opening.

13. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the first beveled portion is beveled at a first bevel angle corresponding to the first viewing angle for the first direction and the second beveled portion is beveled at a second bevel angle corresponding to the second viewing angle for the second direction.

14. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

15. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the first direction is a horizontal or generally horizontal direction and the second direction is a vertical or generally vertical direction.

16. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the face cover protects the plurality of light-emitting elements and the supporting electronics from damage due to impact from an object striking the display face of the display.

17. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the face cover provides for improved contrast of the textual, graphical, or video information displayed by the light-emitting elements.

18. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the face cover comprises a plurality of moguls arranged in a mogul array, wherein each mogul is positioned in front of a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels so that the mogul covers at least a portion of the corresponding one of the plurality of pixels.

19. A display module according to claim 12 , wherein the face cover comprises one or more alignment structures to align the light-emitting elements in a specified orientation relative to a corresponding one of the one or more light-emitting openings.

20. A display module according to claim 19 , wherein the one or more alignment structures are coupled to a rear face of the face cover.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2025
From: DAKTRONICS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073836/0756 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2023
From: DAKTRONICS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 063622/0039 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2022
From: LAWLEY, KENNETH PARKER
To: DAKTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060862/0986 →