Modular large-size forming lamp matrix system

Apparatus for displaying a video picture in response to a received video signal formed of successive vertical fields each containing successive horizontal lines of video information, said display apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of discrete modules arranged in rows and columns and interconnected to one another, with each module including a matrix array of light emitting elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns;
• a video digitizer circuit responsive to a received video signal for converting the received video signal into digital data signals representing different shade levels of the received video signal and for producing said digital data signals at each of a plurality of output terminals, and including a brightness control generator circuit for producing brightness clock pulses at a further output terminal;
• circuitry connected to said plurality of output terminals of said video digitizer circuit and to said modules for supplying said digital data signals at respective ones of said plurality of output terminals to successive columns of said modules and for supplying said brightness clock pulses at said further output terminal to all of said modules;
• and a module board included in each of said modules including converte circuitry responsive to the brightness clock pulses received from said brightness control generator for converting the digital data signals from a corresponding one of said output terminals of said digitizer into width-modulated pulses, and including electronic drive circuitry connected to said columns of the light emitting elements of the matrix array contained therein to supply the width-modulated pulses thereto to control the brightness of said light emitting elements, said module board including address circuitry for supplying drive signals to said rows of light emitting elements to activate said rows in succession;
• a first power supply connected to the circuitry in said module boards of said modules for supplying a first direct current voltage to the circuitry of said module boards and a second power supply connected to the light emitting elements of said modules to supply a second direct current voltage to the light emitting elements.