Power Sequencer Circuit for Display Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large video walls face inefficiencies in power management, leading to significant power dissipation in standby mode and high inrush currents, which hinder compliance with energy efficiency standards and cause electromagnetic interference.
Innovation Solution
A power sequencer control circuit manages local DC power supplies, using latching relays and zero-crossing detection to minimize power dissipation and inrush currents by strategically powering and disconnecting DC power units, with control signals managing the state changes of relays to reduce energy consumption and electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all display tiles are supplied with their own DC power supplies and switched on simultaneously, then each display unit can operate independently, but the inrush current becomes very large and AC power supplies must be dimensioned accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a sequential power-on scheme where display tiles are powered up one by one in a predetermined sequence rather than simultaneously. The control system activates power supplies in stages, with each tile receiving power after a predetermined time interval from its predecessor, thereby limiting the peak inrush current while maintaining independent operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power supply activation process by dividing all display tiles into multiple groups or sequences. Instead of a monolithic simultaneous power-on, the system segments the activation into discrete temporal steps, with each segment (tile) being powered independently at different times, thus distributing the inrush current over time rather than concentrating it all at once
2Speed
If DC power supplies remain powered in standby mode to enable quick activation, then display units can respond rapidly to control signals, but power dissipation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the power supply state adaptive rather than static. Power supplies dynamically transition between completely off and fully active states based on real-time control signals. The system can rapidly switch individual tiles between these states, providing dynamic control over power consumption while maintaining the ability to activate tiles quickly when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through controlled power cycling of display tiles. Instead of maintaining continuous power in standby mode, the system periodically activates and deactivates power to individual tiles based on operational requirements. This periodic on-off cycling dramatically reduces average power dissipation while maintaining operational readiness through rapid reactivation capability
3Productivity
If large inrush currents are drawn during simultaneous power-on, then all display tiles can be activated at once, but electromagnetic radiation increases and interferes with digital devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning and pre-coordinating the sequential activation sequence of all display tiles. The control system establishes a predetermined power-on sequence that staggers activation across multiple time intervals, ensuring that tiles are brought online in an organized manner that limits peak current draw and consequently reduces electromagnetic radiation while still achieving rapid overall activation
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 approach significantly reduces power dissipation in standby mode and limits inrush currents, enabling large video walls to meet energy efficiency standards and minimize electromagnetic interference, thus improving overall energy efficiency and compliance.
Implementation Method 1
The relay is a latching relay which maintains a set state until a control signal changes the state of the relay
Implementation Method 2
A zero-crossing detector on the power supply detects a zero-crossing point of an AC power signal from the AC power source
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system having an assembly of a plurality of electronic devices each driven by a local power unit and a power sequencer control circuit for controlling the power on or off operation of the local power units. The electronic devices can be for example display units of a display wall. An advantage of such an assembly, e.g. a tiled display or display wall, is that a low level or as little energy as possible is dissipated by the local power units such as DC power supplies associated with the electronic devices, e.g. tiles of a display, and the associated “housekeeping” electronics. A further advantage is a limitation of the inrush current at start-up.