Rotating LED Bars for 360-Degree POV Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a comprehensive solution for creating a 360-degree, interactive, and immersive visual display that can be easily manipulated and controlled by users, particularly for gaming and entertainment purposes, using a spherical device.
Innovation Solution
A light-up, ball-shaped device with a rotating strip of LEDs that exploits the concept of persistence of vision, combined with 3D orientation sensors and accelerometers, allowing for a 360-degree display and interactive gaming by rotating the sphere or pressing buttons, enabling various games and applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of LEDs are mounted to create a high-resolution 360-degree display, then the display quality and resolution are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple rotating bars, each carrying a subset of LEDs. Instead of mounting all LEDs statically on a single complex structure, the LEDs are distributed across multiple movable segments (bars) that rotate independently. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single mounting surface while achieving the same total display resolution through the combined effect of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static display structure to a dynamic one by mounting LEDs on rotating bars. The bars rotate around the central axis, and the LEDs are selectively activated at specific angular positions during rotation. This dynamic approach allows a limited number of physical LEDs to create the illusion of a much larger static display array, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high display resolution.
2Volume of moving object
If LEDs are mounted on a rotating bar to create a POV display, then the device size is reduced and portability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the temporal dimension to the display system by utilizing the rotation of bars over time. Instead of arranging all LEDs in a single static plane, the system distributes LEDs across multiple bars that rotate through different angular positions. This dimensional transformation allows the display to achieve high resolution without requiring a proportionally large physical structure, as the same physical space is reused at different moments in time during rotation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rotating bar structure is used to create a 360-degree display, then the immersion and interactivity are improved, but the structural complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating bar structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the mechanical support for mounting LEDs, provides the rotational motion necessary for POV display operation, and defines the angular positioning for pixel activation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite the sophisticated display capabilities achieved.
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
The solution provides a seamless, immersive 360-degree visual experience with the illusion of a large display from a compact device, enabling interactive gaming and various applications, including augmented reality, through the use of rotating LEDs and 3D orientation sensors, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The device rotates the one or more bars within the outer globe about at least one axis of rotation to provide a persistence of vision (POV) light display perceived at the outer surface of the outer globe
Data Source
AI summary
A light sphere display device is disclosed that provides a persistence of vision (POV) light field display. The device is preferably globe-shaped and has a transparent outer globe with an outer surface having touch-sensitive capability that enables user interaction and control of the device. In embodiments, the device provides a 360 degree POV display as seen on the outer surface, by rotating a support bar having an attached circuit board including LEDs about one or more axes of rotation within the device. The device can be held in the hands of a user, or placed upon one or more gaming accessories such as gaming guns, presentation bases, and action figures. The device communicates with the accessories to provide augmented virtual reality displays of the accessories and to provide interactive gaming displays, in examples. The device also displays images and receives interactive games sent over wireless connections from cell phones.