Tiled Display Suspension Leveling for Truss Load Imbalance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tolerances in truss elements cause misalignment and uneven load distribution in suspended tiled displays, leading to stress and visual artefacts, especially noticeable at higher resolutions.

Innovation Solution

A load levelling mechanism that adjusts the position of suspension points using actuators, such as plungers or hydraulic cylinders, to distribute loads evenly between trusses, employing sensors like stress gauges to measure force imbalances and actuators to compensate for out-of-balance conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If tiles are suspended from trusses using hooks or cables, then the display can be assembled and suspended, but the pick-up points will be at different heights due to tolerances, causing uneven load distribution and stress on tiles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs adjustable suspension mechanisms that allow the pick-up points to be dynamically positioned at different vertical locations along the truss elements. This dynamic adjustment capability enables compensation for manufacturing tolerances in both the truss elements and the suspension components, ensuring that all tiles are suspended at the same height despite variations in component dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the vertical position parameter of pick-up points along the truss elements to compensate for tolerance accumulations. By allowing pick-up points to be located at different vertical positions rather than fixed positions, the system can absorb dimensional variations in truss elements, cables, and hooks while maintaining uniform tile alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If truss elements are hung at different heights due to tolerance variations, then the display can be assembled, but the load becomes concentrated on higher truss elements, creating stress imbalances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidload distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system allows vertical adjustment of pick-up point positions along the truss elements. This dynamic positioning enables the system to achieve balanced load distribution across all truss elements by compensating for height variations, preventing load concentration on any single element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If tiles are suspended with fixed-length hooks from trusses at different heights, then the structure is simple, but the tiles end up at different vertical positions causing visual artefacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidtile alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using fixed-length hooks, the patent employs adjustable suspension mechanisms where the effective length or attachment point can be varied. This allows compensation for truss element height variations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, ensuring all tiles align at the same vertical level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary adjustment mechanism between the truss element and the tile suspension point. This intermediary component allows for fine-tuning of the vertical position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, bridging the gap between the fixed truss structure and the requirement for precise tile alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 mechanism effectively compensates for load differences, reducing stress and visual artefacts by ensuring even load distribution across trusses, thereby improving the stability and clarity of suspended tiled displays.

Implementation Method 1

The position of the suspension point is modified by an actuator such as a plunger or a hydraulic cylinder, in function of the force applied to the at least one suspension point of the truss and the force applied to the at least one suspension point of the other truss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

one possible method to measure such a force, for example, as an input to an actuator control is to use a stress gauge based sensor e.g. constantan wire and a resistive bridge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress gauge measurement: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3257037B1Load leveling apparatus for tiled displays and related methods
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 BARCO NV
  • EP3257037B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3257037B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3257037B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

An array of display tiles and a load levelling mechanism is described that can be used with the array of display tiles comprising at least one truss, the at least one truss having at least one first and one second suspension point, from which display tiles can be suspended, further comprising first and second actuators adapted to modify the vertical position of the at least one first or the at least one second suspension point in a vertical direction, in function of a force applied to the at least one first suspension point and a force applied to the at least one second suspension point.