Cableless LED Display Bus Using Compressible Spring Contacts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED display modules face issues with corrosion in connectors, leading to reduced transmission efficiency and potential failure, especially in outdoor weather conditions, due to small contact surface areas and the need for extensive cabling and enclosures that increase cost and weight.
Innovation Solution
A cableless power and data connection scheme using weather-resistant compressible spring contacts and contact plates with increased surface area, eliminating the need for enclosures and allowing for more efficient mechanical structures, and incorporating short-range transceivers for data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pin and barrel connectors are used for electrical connections, then the connection structure is simple, but the contact surface area is small leading to rapid corrosion and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple contact points into a single plate connector that makes simultaneous contact with multiple bus bars. This merging approach increases the total contact surface area from a single pin-barrel interface to multiple parallel contact surfaces, thereby reducing corrosion impact and improving reliability while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional point contact (pin to barrel) to two-dimensional surface contact (plate to bus bar). The plate connector contacts multiple bus bars simultaneously across a larger surface area, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the connection interface that reduces current density and corrosion susceptibility
2Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosures or cabinets are provided to protect electrical connections from weather, then weather resistance is improved, but cost, bulk, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical enclosure system with an inherently weather-resistant electrical connection design. Instead of using physical barriers (cabinets/enclosures) to protect connectors, the invention uses corrosion-resistant plate connectors with large surface areas that can withstand outdoor conditions directly, eliminating the need for protective housings and reducing overall system weight
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the enclosure component from the system by making the electrical connections themselves weather-resistant. The plate connector design inherently resists corrosion and weather effects, allowing the protective enclosure to be eliminated entirely, thereby reducing weight, bulk, and cost
3Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosures or cabinets are provided to protect electrical connections from weather, then weather resistance is improved, but cost and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the enclosure component from the system by making the electrical connections themselves weather-resistant. The plate connector design inherently resists corrosion and weather effects, allowing the protective enclosure to be eliminated entirely, thereby reducing weight, bulk, and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical enclosure system with an inherently weather-resistant electrical connection design. Instead of using physical barriers (cabinets/enclosures) to protect connectors, the invention uses corrosion-resistant plate connectors with large surface areas that can withstand outdoor conditions directly, eliminating the need for protective housings and reducing overall system bulk
4Ease of operation
If extensive cabling and connectors are used to connect LED modules, then power and data transmission is enabled, but the probability of failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrical connections into a single plate connector that establishes multiple simultaneous contacts with bus bars. This merging reduces the total number of discrete connector components needed in the system, thereby reducing the cumulative failure probability while maintaining full power and data transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The plate connector serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides power transmission, data communication, and inherent weather resistance without requiring separate protective components. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components in the system, lowering failure probability while maintaining operational capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the operating life of LED modules by reducing corrosion effects, lowering construction and maintenance costs, and providing improved weather resistance, while simplifying the mechanical structure and enabling efficient mechanical frame architectures.
Implementation Method 1
The connector is comprised of a compressible spring contact made of an electrical conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A connection scheme for LED display array is disclosed. The array includes a plurality of LED modules having LEDs on the front surface and a rear surface having connection points optionally surrounded by a compressible weather seal. The connection points of the LED module electrically connect to a power bus for receiving both power and data. Alternatively, power and data signals may be provided separately through separate means. When the LED modules are attached to a support structure for the display array, the connection points electrically connect with the bus or buses. Mechanical locking features may be used to create a compressing force to facilitate the electrical connection or interface between the LED module connection points and the bus or buses.