Dear readers, have you ever experienced such a crazy moment - the concert is in full swing, and the big screen on the stage suddenly became black! This is probably because the control module is making trouble. Today, let’s take a look at the “invisible commander” hidden in the LED screen. You will be able to be half an expert after watching it.
1. What is the control module?
For example, this thing is like a car's ECU driving computer. The gorgeous pictures in front of you are all relying on it to secretly command thousands of troops:
- Receive signal: "Translation" the computer/mobile phone screen into a language that LEDs can understand
- Assign tasks: Tell each lamp bead when and how bright it will be
- Real-time monitoring: Staring at the screen like a supervisor, the brightness will automatically decrease when the temperature is high
Last year, the main stage screen of a music festival suffered a great loss. Because the control module was installed in the iron box below the stage, the signal was interrupted due to rain and water. Later, the engineer became smart and directly put on "waterproof armor" on the control module.
2. Five major hiding places are raised
(1) Outdoor advertising screen: hidden in the "safe"
Suitable for scenarios:Block exterior wall large screens, highway billboards
- Location Reveal: Usually hidden in the maintenance compartment behind the screen and installed in explosion-proof metal box
- Exclusive design: High-end products will be layered control, such as the arc screen of a landmark building, which divides the main control module into 8 areas, and even if one is broken, it will not affect the overall display.
- Protection level: Must reach IP65 level (dust-proof and waterproof spray), otherwise the strike will be carried out on heavy rains
(2) Stage rental screen: transformed into "mobile command"
Suitable for scenarios:Concerts and exhibitions temporary screens
- Module location: Integrated in the card slot on the side of the box, connected with an aviation plug
- Black Technology: The smartest design I have ever seen is a control card with hot-swap function, so you don’t need to lose power when changing the module.
- Hard lesson: A New Year’s Eve party used an old-fashioned series solution, and a box failure caused the entire row of black screens. Now we use the "ring link" design, and no matter where we break, we will not affect signal transmission
(3) Transparent display: Play "invisibility"
Suitable for scenarios:Mall windows, museum display cabinets
- Hidding skills: Dispersed in the grooves of the border, with a thickness of not more than 3cm
- Innovation Solutions: The transparent screen of an international brand directly turns the control chip into a stamp-sized module, embedded in the gap between pixels
- Important parameters: The heat dissipation of this type of module must meet the standards, and the temperature exceeding 60℃ will affect the light transmittance.
(4) Floor tiles interactive screen: Practice the "Golden Bell Cover"
Suitable for scenarios:Stage screen, interactive area of the Science and Technology Museum
- Special location: Hidden in the four corner brackets of each floor tiles
- Protective design: It must be able to withstand the pedaling pressure of more than 2 tons. The most ruthless test I have ever seen is to drive a forklift back and forth
- Signal transmission: Use wireless + wired dual backup. The ground screen of a new product launch conference last year was used to escape the disaster of WiFi paralysis on the spot by this design.
(5) Stadium fence screen: transform into "Transformers"
Suitable for scenarios:The stadium advertising fence, marathon track
- Module distribution: Set up a control unit every 6 meters
- Exclusive tips: Module with self-test function can warning for failure 3 hours in advance
- Practical cases: After the fence screen of an international football match was hit by hail, 21 modules automatically switched to the backup line, and supported the entire game.
3. Choose a position and look at the three major iron rules.
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Environmental adaptability
- Seaside module: salt spray protection must be done
- Alpine area: It must have self-heating function (can be started even at minus 30°C)
- Dust environment: Positive pressure dustproof system must be installed
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Convenience of maintenance
There is a golden rule:Eelbow test——The installation location should allow engineers to touch the module without using the ladder. The large screen in a shopping mall suffered this loss, and half of the wall was removed for maintenance.
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Signal stability
There are some considerations for transmission distance:
- Network cable transmission: Do not exceed 80 meters
- Fiber Optical Transmission: up to 500 meters
(The most outrageous case I have encountered, a scenic spot set the control room 3 kilometers away, and the screen delayed by 2 seconds)
4. Blood and tears advice from ten-year-old drivers
I have been in this industry for more than ten years and have seen too many weird designs. Let me tell you a few pitfalls that you must not step on:
- Don't believe in "universal module": Last year, a customer used an indoor module to save money, and the outdoor screen was used, but 7 control cards were burned directly during the rainy season.
- Heat dissipation is more important than waterproofing: I have seen a module with a very good seal, and I suffocated myself to death at a high temperature of 55℃
- The backup channel cannot be saved: The information screen of a certain airport fell here. There was no backup plan when the main line failed, resulting in 30,000 people missing the plane
The new solution I am working on recently is quite interesting - make the control module into "Lego building blocks", and pull it out and replace it with a new one if it breaks. Test data shows that the repair time has been reduced from 2 hours to 15 minutes, which is simply a life-saving straw for the performance industry.
5. Three truths for beginners
- Good horse with good saddle: No matter how expensive the screen error control module is, it is useless
- Position determines lifespan: The module installed in the ventilation area can be used for 3 years
- Remote monitoring is a must: Nowadays, high-end modules can be viewed on your phone, so you don’t have to go to the scene if you have any problems in the middle of the night.
After all, the control module is like the "brain" of an LED screen, which must be hidden and always be on standby. Next time you see the shiny advertising screen on the street, you might as well think about its commander who works silently in the dark - maybe he is hiding in a corner you wouldn't expect, working diligently to maintain the bright light and shadow in front of you!
