Modular flip-disc display system and method

A method for updating a flip-disc display comprising an array of panels, each panel in the array of panels comprising a grid array of modules, each module in the grid array of modules comprising a grid array of flip-disc pixels, the method comprising:

• at a first panel controller electrically coupled to a first array of modules arranged within a first panel, accessing a new frame region defining a target color position of each flip-disc pixel in each module in the first panel;
• for each module in the first panel:
• identifying a subset of flip-disc pixels in the module for inversion during a current update cycle based on a difference between pixel values in the new frame region and current color positions of corresponding pixels in the module;
• compiling a set of update commands for the module for the current update cycle, each update command in the set of update commands corresponding to a particular flip-disc pixel in the module and executable by the module to invert the color position of the particular flip-disc pixel;
• and
• defining a pixel order for serially issuing update commands in the set of update commands to the module, the pixel order skipping flip-disc pixels excluded from the subset of flip-disc pixels and specifying a discontinuous sequence of inversions of flip-disc pixels in the subset of flip-disc pixels to yield a substantially uniform distribution of flip-disc pixel inversions across an area of the module;
• and
• during each update instance in a sequence of update instances within the current update cycle, distributing next update commands, in sets of update commands compiled for the current update cycle, to each corresponding module in the first panel according to pixel orders defined for each set of update commands.

A display system comprising:

• a set of panels arranged in a global grid array, each panel in the set of panels comprising:
• a chassis;
• a panel controller;
• and
• a set of modules transiently coupled to the chassis in a regional grid array and electrically coupled to the panel controller, each module in the set of modules comprising:
• a set of parallel and offset column electrodes;
• a set of parallel and offset row electrodes, each row electrode in the set of row electrodes crossing over and electrically isolated from the set of column electrodes;
• a driver configured to selectively drive each column electrode in the set of column electrodes and each row electrode in the set of row electrodes between a high-voltage state, a low-voltage state, and a high-impedance state according to an update command received from the panel controller;
• and
• a set of flip-disc pixels arranged in a local grid array across the module, each flip-disc pixel comprising:
• a disc support arranged proximal an intersection of one column electrode in the set of column electrodes and one row electrode in the set of row electrodes;
• a disc arranged in the disc support, defining a first color across a first side, and defining a second color across a second side opposite the first side;
• and
• an electromagnetic element proximal the disc support and electrically coupled to one column electrode in the set of column electrodes and one row electrode in the set of row electrodes, configured to flip the disc to expose the first side of the disc when the column electrode is driven to the high-voltage state and the row electrode is driven to the low-voltage state, and configured to flip the disc to expose the second side of the disc when the column electrode is driven to the low-voltage state and the row electrode is driven to the high-voltage state;
• and
• a master controller configured to serve a sequence of frames to panel controllers in the set of panels;
• and
• wherein, upon receipt of a frame from the controller, each panel controller selectively issues update commands to the driver in the corresponding module to invert a subset of flip-disc pixels in the corresponding module according to target color positions specified in the frame for the subset of flip-disc pixels.