IP Library Granted Patent US 12,094,375
Granted Patent B2
US 12,094,375 · App. 18/458,663 · Granted Sep 17, 2024

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 12,094,375
App. No.
18/458,663
Granted
Sep 17, 2024
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 (32)

1. A display module comprising:

a circuit board;

a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted to a display face of the circuit board;

wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are grouped into a plurality of pixels each comprising a grouping of two or more of the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the pixels are configured to display one or more of textual, graphical, or video information;

a face cover coupled to the circuit board and positioned in front of at least a portion of the display face, the face cover comprising:

a plurality of openings through the face cover, wherein each opening is positioned proximate to a corresponding light-emitting element of a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels to permit light emitted from the corresponding light-emitting element 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 one of the plurality of openings, wherein each bore comprises at least one beveled portion to control a viewing angle of light that is emitted from the corresponding light-emitting element through the corresponding opening in at least one direction relative to the corresponding opening.

2. The display module of 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. The display module of 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 opening and a second beveled portion positioned in a second direction relative to the corresponding 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. The display module of claim 3 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

5. The display module of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is horizontal or substantially horizontal and the second direction is vertical or substantially vertical.

6. The display module of claim 1 , wherein the face cover comprises one or more alignment structures for each corresponding pixel to align the light-emitting elements in a specified orientation relative to one or more of the openings for the corresponding pixel.

7. A display module comprising:

a circuit board;

a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted to a display face of the circuit board;

wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are grouped into a plurality of pixels each comprising a first corresponding light-emitting element and a second corresponding light-emitting element, wherein the pixels are configured to display one or more of textual, graphical, or video information;

a face cover coupled to the circuit board and positioned in front of at least a portion of the display face, the face cover comprising:

a plurality of sets of openings through the face cover, wherein each set openings comprises a first corresponding opening positioned proximate to the first corresponding light-emitting element to permit light emitted from the first corresponding light-emitting element to pass through the face cover and a second corresponding opening positioned proximate to the second corresponding light-emitting element to permit light emitted from the second corresponding light-emitting element to pass through the face cover; and

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

8. The display module of claim 7 , wherein the light emitted from the first corresponding light-emitting element is of a first color and the light emitted from the second corresponding light-emitting element is of a second color.

9. The display module of claim 7 , wherein each pixel further comprises a third corresponding light-emitting element, wherein each set of openings further comprises a third corresponding opening positioned proximate to the third corresponding light-emitting element to permit light emitted from the first corresponding light-emitting element to pass through the face cover, and wherein each set of bores further comprises a third corresponding bore surrounding at least a portion of the third corresponding opening, wherein the third corresponding bore comprises a third beveled portion positioned in a third direction relative to the third corresponding opening to control a third viewing angle of the light emitted from the third corresponding light-emitting element in the third direction.

10. The display module of claim 9 , wherein the light emitted from the first corresponding light-emitting element is of a first color, the light emitted from the second corresponding light-emitting element is of a second color, and the light emitted from the third corresponding light-emitting element is of a third color.

11. The display module of claim 7 , wherein the first viewing angle is different than the second viewing angle.

12. The display module of claim 7 , wherein the first corresponding bore further comprises a third beveled portion in a third direction relative to the first corresponding opening to control a third viewing angle of the light emitted from the first corresponding light-emitting element in the third direction.

13. The display module of claim 12 , wherein the third direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The display module of claim 12 , wherein the first direction is horizontal or substantially horizontal and the third direction is vertical or substantially vertical.

15. The display module of claim 12 , wherein the third viewing angle is different than the first viewing angle.

16. The display module of claim 12 , wherein the second corresponding bore further comprises a fourth beveled portion in a fourth direction relative to the second corresponding opening to control a fourth viewing angle of the light emitted from the second corresponding light-emitting element in the fourth direction.

17. The display module of claim 16 , wherein the fourth direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

18. The display module of claim 16 , wherein the second direction is horizontal or substantially horizontal and the fourth direction is vertical or substantially vertical.

19. The display module of claim 16 , wherein the fourth viewing angle is different than the second viewing angle.

20. The display module of claim 7 , wherein the face cover comprises one or more alignment structures corresponding to each set of openings to align the first corresponding light-emitting element in a specified orientation relative to the first corresponding opening and to align the second corresponding light-emitting element in a specified orientation relative to the second corresponding opening.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2025
From: DAKTRONICS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073836/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2023
From: LAWLEY, KENNETH PARKER
To: DAKTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 065553/0782 →