Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Modular Screen |
Dale Morrison Sean Halperin Yuzhe He |
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| # Team Members: - Morrison, Dale Joseph Jr (dalejm2) - He Yuzhe (yuzhehe2) - Sean Halperin (seanmh3) # Problem Many applications (tabletop gaming groups, educators, researchers, presenters, and event organizers) require large, flexible, and reconfigurable display systems; however, existing solutions are expensive, bulky, non-modular, and difficult to customize. Users who want visual content often lack an affordable system that can be easily resized, repositioned, and updated with new content. For example, one can consider the tabletop groups that may spend close to $1000 on TV-table setups, which does not include a reconfigurable display, making immersion exceedingly difficult for these groups. This shows the need for a screen that is both customizable, modular, and affordable. # Solution The solution proposed is a modular digital display composed of multiple interlocking screen tiles that connect to form a larger display. Each tile contains a display and communicates with neighboring tiles through magnetic interconnects. A power or control tile will distribute power, detect the layout of the tiles, and set the visual display of each tile. The system to start will support static images and user-uploaded images. Something like this could be used in a classroom, team meetings, digital canvases, and tabletop gaming. The core idea is as described, but there are many advanced features such as audio and animation that will be implemented if time allows. # Solution Components ## Subsystem 1, Tile Display Module (Per Tile) This subsystem allows each tile to render its assigned portion of the full image. The display tiles form the user experience; therefore, without high-quality visual output, the modular board would fail to justify the replacement of paper or screens. To keep immersion, the overall board needs to be seamless instead of fragmented. As such, each tile must render its assigned portion in full detail. Each tile will contain a screen, display driver, and electrical connectors that will receive power and image data from the control tile. The tiles will have a MCU for image processing. The tile will be enclosed in a block housing, which does not separate any screens from each other and maintains alignment. Components: - Display : 6 inch LCD or TFT screen - CreateXplay 6.0 inch TFT Screen Module 1080*2160 - Display Controller Board : HDMI or LVDS - Edge connectors : Magnetic Pogo Pin Connector, 12V 1A Pogopin Male Female 2.5 MM Spring Loaded Connectors - Housing for the Screen - Microcontroller Unit (MCU) : ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 ## Subsystem 2, Tile Interconnect and Layout Detection The key innovation of this project is modularity. Therefore, the board must work regardless of how the user arranges the tiles. This subsystem will provide that capability, allowing users to rearrange tiles freely while ensuring the correct image appears in the correct location. Each tile will include edge contacts that detect when it is connected to a neighboring tile. The power tile will scan the connections and build a grid of the size of the board. Based on the tile's position data, the power tile will assign a location of the grid the tile is on and determine the part of the image the tile should display (rerunning automatically as tiles are moved). Implemention: - Connection Detection - Layout mapping algorithm on the MCU - Coordinate assignments ## Subsystem 3, Power or Control Tile This subsystem will serve as the control center of the board and will be responsible for ensuring all tiles receive power and image data. The control tile will have one or two MCUs. One MCU manages system logic (layout detection, scene selection, etc), while the second handles display data. The controller will store images locally (microSD or USB), slice them into tile segments, and transmit the correct image data to each tile. It will also broadcast synchronization signals to ensure all tiles update at the same time. This tile will also include power regulation, ensuring that all connected tiles receive stable voltage and current. Components: - Microcontroller Unit (MCU) : ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 - microSD or flash storage - Power distribution board with protection NCV97200 -Power On Button: PTS645SL43-2 LFS ## Subsystem 4, User Interface and Scene Control Without an intuitive interface, changing the screen would be difficult, which would reduce usability. This subsystem ensures that the board is able to be used in all different kinds of scenarios. Basic user controls will be integrated directly into the control tile. For advanced control, the system will provide a Wi-Fi-based web application hosted on the control tile. Users can connect from a phone or laptop to upload images, select scenes, and upload them to the board. If app development proves too complex within the semester, the board will support switching between multiple preloaded scenes as a fallback. Components: - Scroll Knob: A scroll wheel which will allow the switching of images if app development is too complex # Criterion For Success - The system supports 4 to 9 tiles. - Pressing the power button powers the system and all connected tiles. - The power or control tile automatically detects the board layout. - Each tile displays the correct portion of the full image. - The board displays at least two selectable scenes. - Scene transitions occur without visible misalignment. - The system remains stable under repeated reconfiguration. - Displaying numbers of it's relative location |
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