2006 NAHBA CONFERENCE NEW SIGN TECHNONOGY

2006 NAHBA 2006 NAHBA CONFERENCECONFERENCE

NEW SIGN NEW SIGN TECHNONOGY TECHNONOGY

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LIGHT EMITTING DIODELIGHT EMITTING DIODE

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a very small light source that fits easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike an ordinary incandescent bulb, the LED don't have a filament that will burn out, and it doesn't get especially hot. It is illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, and it lasts just as long as a standard transistor.

Evolution of Digital TechnologyEvolution of Digital Technology

In the beginning…High Voltage Incandescent Lamps

•15 to 55 watts per lamp = high operating costs• 1000 hour life = high maintenance costs• Pixel spacing of 2.5” to 10” = viewing distances of 900’ to 3,600’

Evolution of Digital TechnologyEvolution of Digital Technology

Then in the late ’80’s…

Low Voltage Incandescent Lamps

•3 to 5 watts per lamp = lower operating costs• 5,000 hour life = lower maintenance costs• Pixel spacing of 1” to 2” = viewing distances of 350’ to 700’

Evolution of Digital TechnologyEvolution of Digital Technology

Today’s technology…

Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

• 1/10 to 1/40 the energy of the incandescent light bulbs• 100,000 hour life = very long life• Pixel spacing of .5” to 2” = wide range of viewing distances and high resolution allowing for clear and concise messages that can duplicate the traditional printed content.

LIGHT OUTPUTLIGHT OUTPUTAn LED has a wide range of light output based on the quality of the part, the ‘bin’ and the amount of current that is passed through it. The light output from an LED is focused light. The epoxy ‘package’ around the die and reflector assembly creates a specific output pattern.

CIRCUIT BOARDCIRCUIT BOARDLED’s are soldered onto a printed circuit board (PCB) along with other components required to control them. The CIRCUIT BOARD is the first step in building an LED matrix display.

PIXEL… MATRIXPIXEL… MATRIXA PIXEL is one or more LEDs forming one point of a picture. Pixels can be made up of single color (monochrome) or multiple colored LED’s (RGB).

Pixels are arranged with different spacingto produce character sizes that can beread at different viewing distances. Thespacing is measured from the centerof one pixel to the center of the next…called PIXEL SPACING.

An image is made up of pixels and isprogrammable. A matrix is designated by X pixels high x Y pixels wide.

HOST COMPUTERHOST COMPUTERThe HOST refers to the editing computer that is not directly connected to the sign. It typically has a phone line and modem to allow for communications between itself and the remote. Because of this, the host can be located any distance from the display.

REMOTE COMPUTERREMOTE COMPUTER

The computer located in the sign is called the REMOTE. It typically receives data from the host via a phone line and modem to run the sign. The remote contains memory for storage of messages.

POWER SUPPLYPOWER SUPPLY

POWER SUPPLIES are mounted onto the rear of the Back Plates to distribute power to LED Circuit Boards.

FACE PANFACE PAN

GASKETGASKETThe GASKET is a rubber seal between the back plate and face pan to prevent moisture from penetrating around the LED holes in the face pan and back plate.

The FACE PAN is a sheet metal structure with holes designed for holding the back plate and LED circuit boards.

FACE FRAMEFACE FRAME

The FACE FRAME is a structure designed to support LED Face Pans.

LOUVERSLOUVERS

LOUVERS are extruded aluminum strips placed above each row of LED’s. The louver serves two purposes; to block sunlight from washing out color from LEDs and they also help to stiffen the face.

CABINETCABINET

The face frame is then attached to a CABINET which also houses the distribution panels and other power components. The cabinet also further protects the electronics from the environment.

LIGHT SENSING PROBELIGHT SENSING PROBE

The LIGHT SENSING PROBE is located outside the display and faces downward. The probe reads the ambient light, then sends this data to the remote controller. The factory setting is 85% of light output capacity during the day and 8% of light output capacity during the night. These settings can be modified by a sunrise/sunset table and/or manually.

SOFTWARE BRIGHTNESS SOFTWARE BRIGHTNESS ADJUSTMENTADJUSTMENT

The LIGHT SENSING PROBE is located outside the display and faces downward. The probe reads the ambient light, then sends this data to the remote controller. The factory setting is 85% of light output capacity during the day and 8% of light output capacity during the night. These settings can be modified by a sunrise/sunset table and/or manually.

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU