System and methods for the provision and application of modular interactive visual display surfaces

Abstract

A modular interactive visual display platform including interconnecting modules including tile modules forming a visual display sensing surface which generates graphical images and senses object proximate to the surface. Tile connector interfaces use tricoupling mechanisms including a mechanical connector, a power connector and a communication connector to connect modules together. The visual display sensing surface may include integrated addressable LEDs, proximity sensors and pressure sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular interactive visual display platform comprising at least one tile module, and at least one power module, wherein:
 said at least one tile module comprises:
 at least one visual display sensing surface comprising a display mechanism and a sensing mechanism, said display mechanism operable to generate and to display graphical images and said sensing mechanism operable to sense at least one parameter associated with at least one object proximate to said surface; and 
 at least one tile connector interface comprising a tricoupling mechanism comprising a mechanical connector, a power connector and a communication connector for coupling said tile connector to a corresponding tricoupling mechanism of at least one other module; and 
   said at least one power module comprises:
 at least one power supply connector for connecting to an external power source; and 
 at least one tile connector terminal comprising at least a power connector for coupling with a corresponding power connector of a tricoupling mechanism of another module; 
   
       the modular interactive visual display platform further comprising at least one connector module for interconnecting a first module with a second module, said connector module comprising:
 at least one tricoupling mechanism for coupling said connector module to at least a first corresponding tricoupling mechanisms of said first module with a second corresponding tricoupling mechanisms of said second module; 
 at least one communication bridge providing a communication line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism; 
 at least one power bridge providing a power line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism; and 
 a mechanical connector for mechanically connecting said first tricoupling mechanism to said second tricoupling mechanism; and 
 
       wherein said connector module further comprises an angle sensor configured and operable to detect the angles at which said first module and said second module are connected. 
     
     
         2 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  wherein said tile module comprises a master tile module further comprising a central processing unit for controlling said visual display sensing surface and a communication unit for communicating with satellite modules. 
     
     
         3 . A modular interactive visual display platform comprising at least one tile module, and at least one power module, wherein:
 said at least one tile module comprises:
 at least one visual display sensing surface comprising a display mechanism and a sensing mechanism, said display mechanism operable to generate and to display graphical images and said sensing mechanism operable to sense at least one parameter associated with at least one object proximate to said surface; and 
 at least one tile connector interface comprising a tricoupling mechanism comprising a mechanical connector, a power connector and a communication connector for coupling said tile connector to a corresponding tricoupling mechanism of at least one other module; and 
   said at least one power module comprises:
 at least one power supply connector for connecting to an external power source; and 
 at least one tile connector terminal comprising at least a power connector for coupling with a corresponding power connector of a tricoupling mechanism of another module; 
   
       wherein said at least one visual display sensing surface comprises a conducting surface, a state detector, and an array of addressable environment interface pixels, and each addressable environment interface pixel comprises an environmental output interface configured to present an output signal according to digital data received via a digital data input line, and an environmental input sensing unit configured to generate a digital output according to environmental conditions sensed thereby; and 
       wherein:
 said array of environmental interface pixels is operable to receive a first input data signal comprising a string of input message packets followed by a marker indicating an end of the string; and 
 each environmental interface pixel is operable to receive an input data signal, to execute instructions coded in the input message packet, to detect an environmental parameter, to determine an output of an environmental output interface, and to generate a digital output signal which is passed to a next environmental interface pixel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  further comprising a skirt perimeter configured to appear continuous with the surrounding flooring. 
     
     
         5 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  further comprising a connector strip module comprising:
 a first terminal tricoupling mechanism connector; 
 a second terminal tricoupling mechanism connector; 
 a communication bridge providing a communication line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism power lines; and 
 a power bridge providing a power line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism; 
 a first mechanical connector for mechanically connecting said first tricoupling mechanism to a corresponding tricoupling mechanism of another module; and 
 a second mechanical connector for mechanically connecting said second tricoupling mechanism to a corresponding tricoupling mechanism of another module. 
 
     
     
         6 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  further comprising a connector blanket module comprising:
 at least at least four terminal tricoupling mechanism terminals; 
 a connecting material; 
 a communication bridge embedded in said connecting material and providing a communication line between communication connectors of said tricoupling mechanism terminals; and 
 a power bridge embedded in said connecting material and providing a power line between communication connectors of said tricoupling mechanism terminals. 
 
     
     
         7 . A modular interactive visual display platform comprising at least one tile module, and at least one power module, wherein:
 said at least one tile module comprises:
 at least one visual display sensing surface comprising a display mechanism and a sensing mechanism, said display mechanism operable to generate and to display graphical images and said sensing mechanism operable to sense at least one parameter associated with at least one object proximate to said surface; and 
 at least one tile connector interface comprising a tricoupling mechanism comprising a mechanical connector, a power connector and a communication connector for coupling said tile connector to a corresponding tricoupling mechanism of at least one other module; and 
   said at least one power module comprises:
 at least one power supply connector for connecting to an external power source; and 
 at least one tile connector terminal comprising at least a power connector for coupling with a corresponding power connector of a tricoupling mechanism of another module; 
   
       wherein said at least one visual display sensing surface comprises a conducting surface, a state detector, and an array of addressable environment interface pixels, and each addressable environment interface pixel comprises an environmental output interface configured to present an output signal according to digital data received via a digital data input line, and an environmental input sensing unit configured to generate a digital output according to environmental conditions sensed thereby. 
     
     
         8 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 7  wherein said array of addressable environment interface pixels comprises a controller configured to provide an input data signal to a first pixel in the array and to receive the output data from a terminal pixel of the array. 
     
     
         9 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 7  wherein said array of addressable environment interface pixels comprises a combination of environment interface pixels selected operable to detect environmental parameters via sensors selected from sensors, proximity sensors, pressure sensors and temperature sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 7  further comprising at least one connector module for interconnecting a first module with a second module, said connector module comprising:
 at least one tricoupling mechanism for coupling said connector module to at least a first corresponding tricoupling mechanisms of said first module with a second corresponding tricoupling mechanisms of said second module; 
 at least one communication bridge providing a communication line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism; 
 at least one power bridge providing a power line between a first communication connector of said first tricoupling mechanism with a second communication connector of said second tricoupling mechanism; and 
 a mechanical connector for mechanically connecting said first tricoupling mechanism to said second tricoupling mechanism. 
 
     
     
         11 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  wherein said connector module further comprises an interactive sensing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  wherein said connector module further comprises a central processing unit for controlling said visual display sensing surface. 
     
     
         13 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  wherein said connector module further comprises a communication unit. 
     
     
         14 . The modular interactive visual display platform of  claim 1  wherein said connector module further comprises a microcontrolling unit for monitoring configuration of connected modules.