Connector for devices for creating mosaicked display systems, and display mosaic systems comprising same
Discrete electronic modules, such as display tiles, designed and configured to be mosaicked and operatively connected with one another and/or to one or more differing types of discrete electronic modules. In some embodiments, the electronic modules include one or more recessed receptacles along their edges that receive corresponding connector biscuits that operatively connect abutting or confronting electronic modules with one another and/or to a controller. In some embodiments, the sizes of the recessed receptacles and connector biscuits are precisely matched so that the biscuits participate in aligning the abutting or confronting display tiles with one another. In some embodiments, the recessed receptacles are provided in recesses in the backsides of the display tiles, which allows each tile to be easily installed and removed from a display mosaic of which the tile is part.
1. A connector designed and configured to operatively connect together first and second electronic modules when the first and second electronic modules are directly abutting one another, wherein the first electronic module includes a first back face and a first recess formed in the first back face and containing a first recessed receptacle having at least one first interface point and a first interior shape, and the second electronic module includes a second back face and a second recess formed in the second back face and containing a second recessed receptacle having at least one second interface point and a second interior shape, the connector comprising:
a rigid body having first and second ends spaced from one another, wherein:
the first end is designed and configured to matingly engage the first recess and has a first exterior shape that conformally abuts the first interior shape when the first end is matingly engaged with the first recess; and
the second end is designed and configured to matingly engage the second recess and has a second exterior shape that conformally abuts the second interior shape when the second end is matingly engaged with the second recess;
at least one third interface point located at the first end of the rigid body, the at least one third interface point designed and configured to operatively interface with the at least one first interface point of the first recessed receptacle on the first electronic module when the first end is matingly engaged with the first recess; and
at least one fourth interface point located at the second end of the rigid body, the at least one fourth interface point designed and configured to operatively interface with the at least one second interface point of the second recessed receptacle on the second electronic module when the second end is matingly engaged with the second recess.
2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one third interface point and the at least one fourth interface point are in operative communication with one another so as to provide operative communication between the first and second electronic modules when the connector is engaged with the first and second recesses.
3. The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising active electronics, wherein the at least one third interface point and the at least one fourth interface point are in operative communication with the active electronics.
4. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein the active electronics comprise a receiver designed and configured to receive and output one or more signals to the at least one third interface point.
5. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first through at least one fourth interface points comprises one or more electrical contacts.
6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein further comprising a permanent magnet designed and configured to attract the connector toward a ferromagnetic support structure when the first and second electronic modules are supported by the ferromagnetic support structure and the connector is engaged with the first and second recesses.
7. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first and second back faces confronts a support structure when the first and second electronic modules are deployed for use;
the at least one first interface point facing the support structure when the first electronic module is deployed for use;
the at least one second interface point facing the support structure when the second electronic module is deployed for use;
the rigid body includes a front side facing away from the support structure when the connector is deployed for use with the first and second electronic modules;
the at least one third interface point located on the front side of the rigid body; and
the at least one fourth interface point located on the front side of the rigid body.
8. The connector according to claim 7 , wherein each of the third and fourth interface comprise spring contacts.
9. The connector according to claim 7 , further comprising means for securing the connector to the support structure independently of the first and second electronic modules.
10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein the means for securing includes a magnet engaged with the rigid body for magnetically securing the connector to the support structure.
11. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first recess of the first electronic module has a first size;
the second recess of the second electronic module has a second size different from the first size; and
the first and second ends of the rigid body are sized differently so as to conformally engage with corresponding differing ones of the differently sized first and second recesses.
12. An electrical connector designed and configured to electrically connect together first and second electronic modules that are secured to a support structure in abutting relation with one another, comprising:
a body having:
first and second ends spaced from one another;
a back side designed and configured to confront the support structure when the electrical connector is deployed for use; and
a front side spaced from the back side;
means for securing the body to the support structure when the electrical connector is deployed for use, the means for securing the body able to secure the body to the support structure independently of the pair of abutting electronic modules;
a first set of electrical contacts located at the first end of the body, the first set of electrical contacts designed, configured, and located to contact a corresponding second set of electrical contacts of the first electronic module when the electrical connector and the first and second electronic modules are deployed together for use; and
a third set of electrical contacts located at the second end of the body, the third set of electrical contacts designed, configured, and located to contact a corresponding fourth set of electrical contacts of the second electronic module when the electrical connector and the first and second electronic modules are deployed together for use.
13. The electrical connector according to claim 12 , wherein the electrical contacts of the first set of electrical contacts are electrically coupled directly to corresponding electrical contacts of the third set of electrical contacts so that the electrical connector functions as an electrical pass-through connector.
14. The electrical connector according to claim 12 , further comprising active electronics, wherein the first set of electrical contacts and the third set of electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the active electronics.
15. The electrical connector according to claim 12 , wherein the first set of electrical contacts and the third set of electrical contacts are located on the front side of the body.
16. The electrical connector according to claim 15 , wherein the first and third sets of electrical contacts are spring-biased contacts.
17. The electrical connector according to claim 15 , wherein the second and fourth sets of electrical contacts are spring-biased contacts and the first and third sets of electrical contacts are fixed contacts.
18. The electrical connector according to claim 12 , wherein:
the first electronic module has a first back face containing a first recess;
the second electronic module has a second back face containing a second recess; and
the first and second ends of the body of the electrical connector are shaped so as to conformally engage with the first and second recesses when the electrical connector and first and second electronic modules are deployed together for use.
19. The electrical connector according to claim 18 , wherein:
the first recess has a first size;
the second recess has a second size different from the first size; and
the first and second ends of the body are sized differently so as to conformally engage with corresponding differing ones of the differently sized first and second recesses when the electrical connector and first and second electronic modules are deployed together for use.
20. The electrical connector according to claim 12 , wherein means for securing the body to the support structure comprises a magnet.