JP5712748B2 - Light emitting device, light emitting unit, and lighting control method for light emitting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device in which a plurality of light emitting units including light emitting elements such as LEDs are connected, a light emitting unit, and a lighting control method for the light emitting device.

  In recent years, high-intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been developed for R, G, and B, respectively, and large LED displays have been manufactured. This LED display is light and thin, has low power consumption, and is used as a large display or an information display board that can be used indoors and outdoors. In order to provide versatility, such a display or information display board generally has a configuration in which a plurality of small-sized LED units are combined in accordance with a required screen size.

  When a light emitting device is configured by combining such LED units, the LED units are connected in a daisy chain, and a controller is connected, and display data corresponding to a lighting pattern is sent from the controller to each LED unit. Is common. In this case, in order to display different display data on each unit, it is necessary to send predetermined display data to the predetermined unit from the controller side.

  When combining such LED units, it is necessary to match the sizes of the LED units to be connected. For example, in a dot matrix LED unit in which LED elements are arranged vertically and horizontally in the unit display section, display data can be correctly displayed and updated if the LED units having the same number of dots in the vertical and horizontal directions are connected. Conversely, it is difficult to connect LED units having different numbers of dots. That is, when sending display data from the controller side to the LED unit, the data is not sent all at once, but is sent as line display data divided into display lines (one line unit of the matrix). Further, the display line number corresponding to the transmitted line display data is designated by an address line which is an address signal line. The address lines are determined according to the maximum number of display lines, that is, the number of LED unit rows. Therefore, when LED units with different numbers of rows are mixed, the number of address lines does not match and physical connection is possible. Disappear.

  Moreover, even if it can be connected, the timing to finish writing the display data corresponding to one screen of each LED unit to the built-in drawing memory is fast for the LED unit with a small number of lines and slow for the LED unit with a large number of lines. . And since each LED unit is turned on autonomously to update the display contents when the display data is written in the drawing memory, if the timing for rewriting the display data on one screen differs for each LED unit, Accordingly, the update timing of the display contents also differs between the LED units, and the entire display combining the LED units is not uniformly updated, and a situation occurs in which the display is partially rewritten.

  Such a problem can be avoided by defining the display rewrite timing on the controller side, for example, by synchronizing with the Vsync signal in an LED unit having a synchronization-only signal or command such as the Vsync signal. However, if the LED unit does not have a signal or command dedicated for synchronization such as a Vsync signal, it becomes difficult to synchronize on the controller side, and the display contents are displayed when all the display data is written in the drawing memory as described above. Since the self-propelled display form is updated, the update timing cannot be matched between LED units having different numbers of display lines.

Republished 2002-11116

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting device, a light-emitting unit, and a lighting control method for the light-emitting device that can match display update timing even when LED units having different numbers of light-emitting lines are connected. .

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to achieve the above object, according to the light emitting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a unit light emitting unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines, and a display displayed on the unit light emitting unit. A drawing memory for holding contents, a line memory for holding light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line, and a light emission data held in the line memory include the unit light emission A plurality of light-emitting units including an address line for indicating which light-emitting line corresponds to the light-emitting unit, and a plurality of light-emitting units connected in series with the plurality of light-emitting units connected in series, A light-emitting device including a controller for sending light-emission data to each light-emitting unit, the light-emitting device sent from the controller Line light emission data obtained by dividing the data for each light emission line is held in the line memory, and can be written to the light emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory. It is configured to operate in an autonomous manner to independently update the display content of its unit light emitting unit, and the light emitting unit is connected in series with other light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines of the unit light emitting unit. The light emitting unit sequentially receives line light emission data for each light emission line sent from the common controller from the terminal line side to the head line side, and is connected to the common controller. At the time when the line emission data of the first line is written and stored in the drawing memory. To indicate the contents, the being configured to unit updates the display contents of the light-emitting portion, a plurality of light-emitting units can be daisy-chained to the common controller. Accordingly, it is possible to construct a display system in which light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed without giving identification information or the like for each light emitting unit, and an inexpensive and highly flexible display system can be realized.

In the light emitting device according to the second aspect, each light emitting unit has the same number of address lines, and can display the largest number of light emitting lines among the light emitting units included in the aggregate of the light emitting units. Can be set to the number of address lines. As a result, when connecting light emitting units with different numbers of light emitting lines, the number of address lines is made common, and even for the light emitting unit with the largest number of light emitting lines, the number of light emitting lines can be expressed by the address lines. Even if the light emitting units of the number of lines are connected to each other, it is possible to transmit the light emission data without any trouble.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting device according to the third aspect, the light emitting unit is formed in an elongated shape, and the aggregate of the light emitting units can be arranged in a direction substantially intersecting the longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting device according to the fourth aspect, the drawing memory can have a storage capacity of two screens or more. Thereby, the light emission data displayed at the time of the next update can be developed in one drawing memory, and a plurality of drawing memories can be used alternately, and the display can be updated efficiently.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting device of the fifth aspect, the line memory can be a shift register, and the drawing memory can be a random access memory.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting device according to the sixth aspect, a unit light emitting unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines, a drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit, A line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line, and which light emission line of the unit light emitting unit the light emission data held in the line memory corresponds to A plurality of light emitting units, each of which is connected to an assembly of the light emitting units in a state where the plurality of light emitting units are connected in series. A light emitting device comprising: a controller for transmitting light emission data defining a lighting pattern of a light emitting element in a light emitting unit; Line emission data obtained by dividing emission data sent from the controller for each emission line is held in the line memory, and can be written to the emission line specified by the address line in the drawing memory. Further, each light emitting unit is configured to operate autonomously to independently update the display contents in its unit light emitting unit, and the other light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines in the light emitting unit and the unit light emitting unit. Can be connected to a common controller and connected to a common controller, and the light emitting unit sequentially receives the line emission data for each light emission line sent from the common controller from the head line side to the terminal line side. In addition, each line is recorded in the drawing memory, and the line emission data of the end line is written. When the address line corresponding to the first line of the light emission data to be updated next is selected, the display content of the unit light emission unit is updated to the display content held in the drawing memory. The plurality of light emitting units can be daisy chain connected to the common controller . As a result, the order of the line light emission data sent from the controller to the light emitting unit is set in the same ascending order as before, and the update timings between the light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines can be made coincident. Becomes easy.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting unit according to the seventh aspect, a unit light emitting unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines, a drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit, The line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line, and the line light emission data held in the line memory correspond to which light emission line of the unit light emitting unit. This is a light emitting unit that operates autonomously and includes an address line for instructing and a unit control unit that controls lighting of the unit light emitting unit, and independently updates display contents in the unit light emitting unit. And a connector that can be connected to another light emitting unit having a different number of light emitting lines. Tsu: it is connected in series, and the at common state connected in a daisy chain to the controller from outside the common controller connected to the collection of the light emitting units for each light-emitting unit, said unit light emitting portion When the line emission data for each emission line is transmitted as the emission data for defining the lighting pattern of the light emitting element in the line, the line emission data is held in the line memory, and the emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory The line emission data for each emission line to be sent can be received sequentially from the terminal line side to the head line side, and when the line light emission data of the head line is further written. The display content of the unit light emitting unit can be updated to the display content held in the drawing memory. . Thereby, it is possible to construct a display system in which light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed without preparing a synchronization-dedicated signal such as a Vsync signal or a command, and an inexpensive and highly flexible display system can be realized.

Furthermore, according to the light emitting unit according to the eighth aspect, a unit light emitting unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines, a drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit, A line memory for storing the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each line, and which light emission line of the unit light emitting unit corresponds to the line light emission data held in the line memory A light-emitting unit that operates autonomously and includes an address line for instructing and a unit control unit that controls lighting of the unit light-emitting unit, and independently updates display contents in the unit light-emitting unit. And a connector that can be connected to another light emitting unit having a different number of light emitting lines. There are connected in series, and the at common state connected in a daisy chain to the controller from outside the common controller connected to the collection of the light emitting units for each light-emitting unit, light emission in the unit light emitting portion When the line emission data for each emission line is sent as the emission data that defines the lighting pattern of the element, it is stored in the line memory and written to the emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory. The line emission data for each emission line to be sent can be sequentially received from the leading line side to the termination line side, the line emission data of the termination line is written, and the unit emission Select the address line corresponding to the first line of the flash data whose display content is to be updated next. At the time of the time, the display contents held in the drawing memory may updatable constituting the display contents of the unit light-emitting portion. As a result, the order of the line light emission data sent from the controller to the light emitting unit is set in the same ascending order as before, and the update timings between the light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines can be made coincident. Becomes easy.

Furthermore, according to the lighting control method of a light-emitting device according to the ninth aspect, there is provided a lighting control method of controlling a plurality of light emitting units, the lighting of the light emitting device connected to the controller, from a common controller, Daisy For each light emitting unit connected in a chain, a step of sequentially sending line light emission data for each light emitting line constituting the unit light emitting unit of the light emitting unit from the terminal line side to the head line side; Sequentially receiving line emission data for each of the emission lines, holding it in a line memory, and writing it to the emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory; Is written in the drawing memory, the display content held in the drawing memory is displayed in the display of the unit light emitting unit. A step of updating the may include. Thereby, it is possible to construct a display system in which light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed without preparing a synchronization-dedicated signal such as a Vsync signal or a command, and an inexpensive and highly flexible display system can be realized.

Furthermore, according to the lighting control method of a light emitting device according to a tenth aspect, there is provided a lighting control method of controlling a plurality of light emitting units, the lighting of the light emitting device connected to the controller, from a common controller, Daisy For each light emitting unit connected in a chain, a step of sequentially sending line light emission data for each light emitting line constituting the unit light emitting unit of the light emitting unit from the head line side to the terminal line side; , Sequentially receiving the line emission data for each light emission line, holding it in the line memory, and writing it in the light emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory; Is added, and the display content of the unit light emitting unit is added to the head line of the light emission data to be updated next. Once you have selected Surain, the display contents held in the drawing memory may include the steps of updating the display contents of the unit light-emitting portion. As a result, the order of the line light emission data sent from the controller to the light emitting unit is set in the same ascending order as before, and the update timings between the light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines can be made coincident. Becomes easy.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which used the light-emitting device of FIG. 1 for the information display board of a station. It is a schematic diagram which shows the light emission unit from which the number of light emission lines differs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which connected the several controller to the light-emitting device comprised by the light-emitting unit shown in FIG. It is a timing chart which shows a mode that the display content of the light emission unit shown in FIG. 3 is updated when an address line is temporarily connected. 3 is a timing chart illustrating how the display content of the light emitting device according to Example 1 is updated. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where one controller is connected to the light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the example which expresses the number of light emission lines in a binary number using an address line. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the light emission unit of FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing how display contents of a light emitting device according to Example 2 are updated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a light emitting device, a light emitting unit, and a lighting control method for the light emitting device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention. The lighting control method of the light emitting device is not specified as follows. Further, the present specification by no means specifies the members shown in the claims to the members of the embodiments. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, and are merely explanations. It is just an example. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and a plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing. In addition, the contents described in some examples and embodiments may be used in other examples and embodiments.
Example 1

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a light emitting device 100 in which a plurality of light emitting units are combined is applied to an information display board as Example 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, this information display board is a display that displays the departure time and destination of a train suspended above the train platform within the station. In this example, the information display board is configured by arranging the block-like light emitting units 1 in a plurality of stages. Here, three types of light emitting units 1A, 1B, and 1C are used as the light emitting units 1 constituting each block. Among them, the light emitting unit 1A is connected to each other in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit, and twelve light emitting units are arranged in the horizontal direction to constitute the first row and the third row of the information display board. Similarly, 12 light emitting units 1B are connected in the longitudinal direction, and 24 light emitting units stacked in two stages in the vertical direction constitute the second row of the information display board. Further, 12 light emitting units 1C are arranged in two rows in the longitudinal direction in the same manner as the light emitting unit 1B to constitute the fourth row of the information display board. A controller 2 is connected to the aggregate of the light emitting units, and light emission data defining the lighting pattern of the light emitting elements 21 in the unit light emitting unit 13 is sent from the controller 2 to each light emitting unit.
(Light-emitting unit 1)

  Each light-emitting unit 1 controls a unit light-emitting unit 13 in which a plurality of light-emitting elements 21 are arranged, a drawing memory 11 for holding display contents displayed on the unit light-emitting unit 13, and lighting of the unit light-emitting unit 13. And a unit controller 12. As the light emitting element 21, a semiconductor light emitting element can be preferably used, and in particular, a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser can be preferably used. Moreover, it can replace with a semiconductor light emitting element and can utilize a liquid crystal, organic EL, etc. for a unit light emission part.

  Each light emitting unit 1 is configured in an elongated box shape in appearance. Further, the connection between the light emitting units of the same type can be configured in a rod shape having a constant width by being arranged so as to be continuous in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a larger display screen can be configured by arranging the aggregates of rod-shaped light emitting units side by side in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the light emitting unit 1 </ b> A has 24 × 48 LEDs arranged in the unit light emitting unit 13. In the light emitting units 1B and 1C, 16 × 48 LEDs are arranged in the unit light emitting unit 13. In this way, by sharing the size in the row (horizontal) direction with multiple types of light emitting units, it is easy to adjust the size of the display and configure the column (vertical) when configuring the display in a horizontal orientation. ) Direction information display amount can be adjusted. In the present specification, the number of rows of the light emitting elements 21 of the light emitting unit is referred to as the number of light emitting lines. That is, the light emitting unit 1A has 24 lines, and the light emitting unit 1B and the light emitting unit 1C have 16 lines.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the train name, train number, departure time, destination, and remarks column can be displayed for four lines, that is, for four trains, and the display size and blank space are specified for each item. . In this example, the light emitting units 1A and 1C can be displayed in full color, and the light emitting unit 1B is a white light emitting type.

  In the case where a plurality of such light emitting units are arranged to form a display or an information display board, a structure for distributing light emission data to be displayed on each connected light emitting unit is required. In a method in which no light emission line is specified when supplying light emission data, it is necessary to have a shift register for the display screen (all light emission lines), and there is a problem that costs increase.

  Therefore, as a method of supplying light emission data to each light emitting unit without having a shift register for the display screen, a method of supplying light emission data by designating a light emission line is used. According to this method, a shift register for one light-emitting line is sufficient, and it is not necessary to have a shift register for a display screen (all light-emitting lines). In addition, in the LED unit whose display contents are not frequently updated, there is an advantage that the number of connected units can be increased. On the other hand, there is a problem in that other light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines cannot be connected for the convenience of defining the light emitting lines. Therefore, if a display is configured by mixing light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, a controller is provided for each row as shown in FIG. 2X needs to be placed separately. In this configuration, there is a problem that the control becomes complicated and the cost increases as the number of controllers increases.

  Further, even if light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed and connected to the same controller, there is a problem that the update timing of the display contents does not match this time. That is, each light emitting unit has a drawing memory for the next screen in addition to the display drawing memory in order to rewrite the current display contents, and the display contents are updated when the contents of the drawing memory are rewritten. It is carried out. However, in this method, when light emitting units with different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed, the time required for rewriting display contents is short for light emitting units with a small number of light emitting lines, and the time required for rewriting is long for a light emitting unit with a large number of light emitting lines. For this reason, the timing at which the display content is updated differs for each light emitting unit.

  For example, consider a display in which the light emitting units A, B, and C shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are connected. Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the light emitting unit A has eight light emitting lines from line 0 to line 7, and the light emitting unit B has a light emitting line number of lines 0 to 0 as shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3C, the 16 lines of the line 15 and the light emitting unit C are respectively configured with 24 light lines having the number of light lines 0 to 23.

  Here, the number of address lines necessary to express the number of light emitting lines of each light emitting unit in binary is 3 because light emitting unit A has 8 dots and light emitting unit B has 16 dots. Since the number of the light emitting units C is 24 dots, there are five. For this reason, in order to connect display units having different light emission lines with the same number of address lines, the number of light emission units is set to 5 in accordance with the light emission unit C having the maximum number of light emission lines.

  The timing at which the display content of each light emitting unit is switched is when all the light emitting lines constituting the light emitting data have been written. That is, the display content is usually updated at the timing when writing of the last light emitting line is completed. Here, an example in which the display content is switched from the display A to the display B by the conventional method in the display in which the light emitting units A to C of FIG. 3 are mixed is shown in the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 5A shows a state in which line light emission data is sequentially sent from the controller to each light emitting unit in ascending order, that is, from line 0 to line 23. Here, the light emission data constituting the display A is divided into line light emission data 0 to 7, 0 to 15, and 0 to 24 for each light emission line. On the other hand, FIGS. 5B to 5D show a state in which each light emitting unit A to C receives the line light emission data and updates it to display A, and further rewrites to display B as the next update. . Thus, even if transmission of the light emission data of each line is simultaneously started to each light emitting unit, the light emitting unit A autonomously receives the light emission data of line 7 and finishes writing the display contents of the drawing memory. The display content of the unit light emitting unit is updated to display A. Similarly, the light emitting unit B updates the display content to display A when the light emission data of the line 15 has been written. Further, for the light emitting unit C, the display content is updated to the display A when the light emission data of the line 23 has been written. As a result, the display of the light emitting unit A is first updated to the display A, then the light emitting unit B is updated, and finally the light emitting unit C is updated, and the update timing varies among the light emitting units. . In a light-emitting device in which a plurality of light-emitting units are combined to form a single display, when the screen display is switched at partially different timings, the appearance is very poor. On the other hand, for example, it is possible to synchronize the update timing between the light emitting units by providing a signal or command dedicated to synchronization, such as a Vsync signal. However, in a method that does not have a synchronization-only signal or command such as a Vsync signal in order to reduce the cost of the connector in the autonomous method in which display contents are sequentially updated in each light emitting unit, such a method for forcibly synchronizing is as follows. Not available.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, light emission units having different numbers of light emission lines can be mixed and connected to the same controller, and the light emission data is sent from the controller to the light emission units so that the update timing of the display contents is matched. The order is reversed. That is, generally, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the emission data is sent in order from the first line (line 0) to the end line (line 23). In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The data is sent in reverse order from the end line toward the start line. Each light emitting unit sequentially writes the light emission data of its own light emitting unit into the drawing memory for each line. With this configuration, since the last line written is always the first line (line 0), the timing at which writing is performed at the end of the drawing memory is the same regardless of the number of light emitting lines in the light emitting unit. Therefore, the timing at which writing is completed can be made uniform among the light emitting units, and as a result, synchronization for updating the display contents can be achieved. As a result, even in a display system in which light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed without sending a synchronization signal, a high-quality display that does not give a sense of incongruity to the update timing of display contents can be realized with an inexpensive configuration. . Moreover, a display system with a high degree of freedom can be realized by making it possible to construct a display system in which light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines are mixed.

The controller 2 and the plurality of light emitting units 1 are daisy chain connected. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 2 and the light emitting unit 1 may be connected so that data is sent back in the opposite direction by turning back at the end of a prescribed row such as an even row or an odd row. It is also possible to connect so that data is always sent in a certain direction such as from left to right in each row.
(Controller 2)

The controller 2 is connected to an assembly in which a plurality of light emitting units 1 are connected in series, and sends to each light emitting unit 1 light emission data defining a lighting pattern of the light emitting elements 21 in the unit light emitting unit 13. The controller 2 sets the number of address lines, which are address signal lines for sending address signals, to the light emitting unit with the largest number of address lines so that the other light emitting units 1 having different numbers of light emitting lines of the unit light emitting unit 13 can be connected. On the other hand, the light emission data can be transmitted. For example, when the light emitting lines are expressed in binary as shown in FIG. 8, in the case of 8 dots of the light emitting lines 0-7, three address lines ADR0-ADR2 are required. In addition, four address lines ADR0 to ADR3 are required in the case of 16 dots of the light emission lines 0-15, and five address signal lines ADR0 to ADR4 are required in the case of 24 dots of the light emission lines 0-23. Become. Therefore, when different light emitting units are connected, the number of signal lines is determined according to the light emitting unit having the largest number of light emitting lines.
(Hardware configuration of light emitting unit 1)

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the light emitting unit 1. Here, an example of the light emitting unit 1B in FIG. 1 is shown. The light emitting unit 1 shown in this figure includes a line memory 18, a unit control unit 12, two drawing memories 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B, a unit light emitting unit 13, a segment driver 14, and a common driver 15. The unit light emitting unit 13 is composed of a dot matrix LED panel of 16 dots × 48 dots. The LED panel is driven by the segment driver 14 and the common driver 15, and the segment driver 14 and the common driver 15 are controlled by the unit controller 12. The unit control unit 12 controls the lighting of the unit light emitting unit 13 according to the light emission data of the drawing memories 11A and 11B. The drawing memories 11A and 11B are each composed of a RAM, and an address decoder 16 and a data buffer 17 are connected to each RAM. Each of the drawing memories 11A and 11B has the same hardware configuration, and writes the light emission data input in one drawing memory 11, while the other drawing memory 11 reads out the already constructed light emission data. By doing so, the light emission data is written and can be repeatedly displayed until the drawing memory 11 is switched. The line memory 18 is a member for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memories 11A and 11B for each line constituting the unit light emitting unit, and a shift register is used here.

The light emitting unit 1 includes a plurality of signal lines as an interface for connecting to another light emitting unit or the controller 2. In this figure, DI is a signal line for inputting line display data for LED display, and DO is a signal line for output. SCKI is a signal line for inputting a data capturing clock, and SCKO is an output signal line. Further, the address line ADRI [n: 0] is an address signal line for inputting a memory address of a light emitting line for writing data, and the address line ADRO [n: 0] is an output address signal line. Here, n = 3, that is, four address signal lines of address lines ADRI0 to ADRI3 and address lines ADRO0 to ADRO3 are used as address lines, and light emission lines up to 2 ⁴ = 16 can be expressed. Further, WI is a write input signal line for writing the contents of the line memory 18 to the RAM, and WO is an output signal line thereof.

  The line memory 18 inputs line emission data from DI in synchronization with the data fetch clock input from SCKI. The input line light emission data is sent to the data buffer 17 and then written into any of the RAMs. One of the two RAMs is used for writing, and a display screen to be updated next time is constructed. The other RAM is used for reading the already constructed light emission data, and the light emission data is read via the segment driver 14.

  The line emission data is written into the RAM according to the address line and the write input. While line light emission data is input from the DI to the line memory 18, the number of the light emission line (number of lines in the unit light emitting unit) to which the line light emission data is to be written is input from the ADRI as the memory address of the corresponding light emission line. The The memory address is sent to the address decoder 16 and decoded, and the line emission data of the designated emission line is written from the line memory to the RAM via the data buffer 17. This write timing is performed according to the write input input from the WI.

In the above example, the line is regarded as the horizontal direction, but it goes without saying that the row and the column may be interchanged. In other words, the present invention can be applied even when the horizontal arrangement and vertical arrangement of the light-emitting units are interchanged so that the rows and columns are apparently interchanged.
(Example 2)

  In the above example, the line emission data is sent in the reverse order from the end line to the beginning line (descending order), and when all the emission data is collected, that is, the beginning data is written to the drawing memory. In the autonomous lighting display method for updating the display contents of the unit light emitting units at the time, the method for matching the timing of updating the display contents between the respective light emitting units has been described. With this method, it is necessary to reverse the order in which the line light emission data is sent from the controller to the light emitting unit, and therefore, the control method must be changed in this part. In other words, it cannot be applied to an existing light emitting device as it is. That is, in a general usage pattern, line light emission data is sent from the controller side while sequentially counting up the light emission lines to the light emitting unit, so a design change is required to change the sending order. In addition, a light emitting unit adopting this method cannot be mixed with an existing light emitting unit.

  On the other hand, if the transmission order of the line emission data is the order from the first line to the end line (ascending order), each light emitting unit finishes writing the line emission data of the last line in the conventional method as shown in FIG. Since the display content is updated at the time of update, the update timing differs depending on the number of light emitting lines of the light emitting unit.

  Therefore, the update of the autonomous display contents is not performed at the timing when the line emission data of the terminal line is written, but when the address line of the first line of the display screen updated next time is selected as shown in FIG. To do. With this configuration, it is possible to match the update timing between the light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines while keeping the line light emitting data transmission order from the first line to the last line (ascending order) as before. This can be dealt with only by changing the timing of updating the unit light emitting unit on the unit side. For example, in FIG. 9, the unit controller 12 changes the timing at which the RAM light emission data is reflected in the unit light emitter 13 by driving the segment driver 14 and the common driver 15. With this method, it is not necessary to change the control on the controller side, and it is possible to match the update timing between the light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines while sending the line light emitting data in ascending order as in the conventional case.

  Hereinafter, this configuration will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIGS. Here, a timing chart is shown in which line light emission data is sent from the controller to three light emitting units A to C having different numbers of light emitting lines. Here, in the light emitting units A to C, the number of light emitting lines is 8 lines, 16 lines, and 24 lines, respectively, as in FIG. FIG. 10A shows a state in which line light emission data is sequentially sent from the controller to each light emitting unit in ascending order, that is, from line 0 to line 23 as in the prior art. Here, the light emission data constituting the display A is divided into line light emission data 0 to 7, 0 to 15, and 0 to 24 for each light emission line. In response to this, the light emitting unit A receives the line light emission data 0 to 7 as shown in FIG. However, the display contents are not updated to the display A when the line emission data 7 that is the terminal line is received, but is waited until the address line of the line 0 that is the first line of the display B that is the next update contents is selected. .

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10C, the light emitting unit B does not immediately update even after receiving the line light emission data 0 to 15, and selects the address line of the first line 0 of the next display B. Wait until you do. Then, the light emitting unit C receives the line light emission data 0 to 23 as shown in FIG. 10D, and then displays the display contents at the timing when the address line of the line 0 that is the first line of the next display B is selected. Update to A. At this time, since the other light emitting units A and B simultaneously select the first address line, the light emitting units A to C are updated to the display A at the same timing. In this way, in the light emitting unit that performs autonomous updating, the display content can be updated at the same timing even if the number of light emitting lines is different. With this method, line emission data can be sent out in ascending order as in the prior art, so there is no need to change the control method on the controller side, and application to existing facilities is facilitated. Similarly to the first embodiment, it is not necessary to define the update timing with a synchronization-dedicated signal such as a Vsync signal or a command.

  In the above example, the display has been described as the light emitting device. In particular, the present invention can be suitably used for applications such as guide boards for character display and information display boards. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be used for a moving image display, a still image display, intelligent lighting, and the like.

  As described above, the light emitting device, the light emitting unit, and the lighting control method for the light emitting device according to the present invention can be used flexibly for various applications. For example, it can be used as a LED display for large televisions, billboards, advertisements, traffic information, stereoscopic displays, lighting fixtures, and the like. Particularly, it is suitable for downsizing, cost reduction, automation, and design flexibility of the apparatus. Further, it can be used not only for LED light emitting devices but also for TFT liquid crystal displays in which pixels are driven by transistors.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Light-emitting device 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, A, B, C ... Light-emitting unit 2, 2X ... Controller 11, 11A, 11B ... Drawing memory 12 ... Unit control part 13 ... Unit light-emitting part 14 ... Segment driver 15 ... Common Driver 16 ... Address decoder 17 ... Data buffer 18 ... Line memory 21 ... Light emitting element

Claims (10)

A unit light emitting section in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines;
A drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit;
A line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line;
An address line for instructing which light emission line of the unit light emission unit corresponds to the light emission data held in the line memory;
A plurality of light emitting units comprising:
In a state where the plurality of light emitting units are connected in series, the controller is connected to an assembly of the light emitting units, and sends light emission data to each light emitting unit;
A light emitting device comprising:
Line emission data obtained by dividing emission data sent from the controller for each emission line is held in the line memory, and can be written to the emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory. ,
Furthermore, each light-emitting unit is configured to operate autonomously to independently update the display content in its unit light-emitting unit,
The light emitting unit can be connected to a common controller in a state where the light emitting unit is connected in series with other light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines.
The light emitting unit sequentially receives the line light emission data sent from the common controller from the terminal line side toward the head line side, and records each in the drawing memory.
When the line emission data of the first line is written, the display content of the unit light emitting unit is updated to the display content held in the drawing memory ,
A light emitting device , wherein a plurality of light emitting units are daisy chain connected to the common controller . The light-emitting device according to claim 1 ,
Each light emitting unit has the same number of address lines,
The light emitting device, wherein the largest number of light emitting lines among the light emitting units included in the aggregate of light emitting units is set to the number of address lines that can be displayed. The light-emitting device according to claim 1 ,
The light emitting unit is configured in an elongated shape,
An assembly of light emitting units is arranged side by side in a direction substantially intersecting the longitudinal direction. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The light-emitting device, wherein the drawing memory has a storage capacity of two screens or more. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The line memory is a shift register;
The light-emitting device, wherein the drawing memory is a random access memory. A unit light emitting section in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines;
A drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit;
A line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line;
An address line for instructing which light emission line of the unit light emission unit corresponds to the light emission data held in the line memory;
A plurality of light emitting units comprising:
A plurality of light emitting units connected to each other in series, connected to an assembly of the light emitting units, and to each of the light emitting units, to transmit light emission data defining a lighting pattern of light emitting elements in the unit light emitting unit. With the controller
A light emitting device comprising:
Line emission data obtained by dividing emission data sent from the controller for each emission line is held in the line memory, and can be written to the emission line designated by the address line in the drawing memory. ,
Furthermore, each light-emitting unit is configured to operate autonomously to independently update the display content in its unit light-emitting unit,
The light emitting unit can be connected to a common controller in a state where the light emitting unit is connected in series with other light emitting units having different numbers of light emitting lines.
The line emission data for each emission line sent from the common controller, the light emitting unit sequentially receives from the leading line side toward the terminal line side, and records each in the drawing memory,
When the line emission data of the end line is written, and the address line corresponding to the first line of the emission data to be updated next is displayed, the display contents held in the drawing memory are displayed. , Configured to update the display content of the unit light emitting unit ,
A light emitting device , wherein a plurality of light emitting units are daisy chain connected to the common controller . A unit light emitting section in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines;
A drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit;
A line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each light emission line;
An address line for instructing which light emission line of the unit light emitting unit corresponds to the line light emission data held in the line memory;
A unit control unit for controlling lighting of the unit light emitting unit;
With
A light-emitting unit that operates autonomously to independently update the display content in the unit light-emitting unit,
It has a connector that can be connected to another light emitting unit having a different number of light emitting lines in the unit light emitting section,
In a state where a plurality of light emitting units are connected in series and daisy chain connected to the common controller , the unit is connected to each light emitting unit from an external common controller connected to the assembly of the light emitting units. When light emission data for each light emission line is sent as light emission data for defining the lighting pattern of the light emitting element in the light emitting unit, this is held in the line memory and designated by the address line in the drawing memory. It is configured to be writable on the light emission line,
The line emission data for each emission line to be sent can be received sequentially from the terminal line side to the head line side,
Furthermore, the light emitting unit is configured so that the display content of the unit light emitting unit can be updated to the display content held in the drawing memory when the line light emission data of the first line is written. A unit light emitting section in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a plurality of light emitting lines;
A drawing memory for holding display contents displayed on the unit light emitting unit;
A line memory for holding the light emission data written in the drawing memory as line light emission data for each line;
An address line for instructing which light emission line of the unit light emitting unit corresponds to the line light emission data held in the line memory;
A unit control unit for controlling lighting of the unit light emitting unit;
With
A light-emitting unit that operates autonomously to independently update the display content in the unit light-emitting unit,
It has a connector that can be connected to another light emitting unit having a different number of light emitting lines in the unit light emitting section,
In a state where a plurality of light emitting units are connected in series and daisy chain connected to the common controller , the unit is connected to each light emitting unit from an external common controller connected to the assembly of the light emitting units. When light emission data for each light emission line is sent as light emission data for defining the lighting pattern of the light emitting element in the light emitting unit, this is held in the line memory and designated by the address line in the drawing memory. It is configured to be writable on the light emission line,
The line emission data for each emission line to be sent can be received sequentially from the head line side to the terminal line side,
When the line emission data of the end line is written, and the address line corresponding to the first line of the emission data to be updated next is displayed, the display contents held in the drawing memory are displayed. The light emitting unit is configured to be able to update the display content of the unit light emitting unit. A lighting control method for controlling lighting of a light emitting device connected to a plurality of light emitting units and a controller,
A step of sequentially sending line light emission data for each light emission line constituting the unit light emitting unit of the light emitting unit from the common line controller to each light emitting unit connected in a daisy chain from the terminal line side to the head line side. When,
Each light emitting unit sequentially receives line light emission data for each light emitting line, holds it in a line memory, and writes it in a light emitting line designated by an address line in a drawing memory;
Each light emitting unit updates the display content of the unit light emitting unit to the display content held in the drawing memory when the line light emission data of the first line is written in the drawing memory;
The lighting control method of the light-emitting device characterized by including. A lighting control method for controlling lighting of a light emitting device connected to a plurality of light emitting units and a controller,
A step of sequentially sending line light emission data for each light emitting line constituting the unit light emitting unit of the light emitting unit from the common line controller to each light emitting unit connected in a daisy chain from the leading line side to the terminating line side. When,
Each light emitting unit sequentially receives line light emission data for each light emitting line, holds it in a line memory, and writes it in a light emitting line designated by an address line in a drawing memory;
Each light emitting unit holds the line emission data of the end line, and when the address line corresponding to the first line of the emission data to be updated next is selected, the display content of the unit is stored in the drawing memory. Updating the display content of the unit light emitting unit to the displayed content,
The lighting control method of the light-emitting device characterized by including.

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