IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,854,595
Granted Patent B2
US 8,854,595 · App. 12/411,925 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Constricted convection cooling system for an electronic display

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,854,595
App. No.
12/411,925
Filed
Mar 26, 2009
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2883
USPC
349/161
Abstract

Preferred embodiments provide a cooling system for an electronic display. A constricted convection channel is used to force cooling air against a posterior surface of the electronic display. Fans may be used to propel or pull air through the constricted convection channel in a substantially uniform manner. A refrigeration unit or thermoelectric module may be employed to cool or heat the air traveling through the constricted convection channel. Some embodiments include a closed loop which extracts heat (or adds heat) to the front display surface.

Claims (53)

1. A system for cooling an electronic display having a posterior display surface and contained within a housing, the system comprising:

a constricted convection plate placed posterior to the posterior display surface;

two side panels placed adjacent to the constricted convection plate and the posterior display surface, defining a constricted convection channel having an entrance and an exit; and

a fan placed to draw air from outside of the housing through the constricted convection channel.

2. The cooling system from claim 1 further comprising:

an air conditioning unit in gaseous communication with the entrance to the constricted convection channel.

3. The cooling system from claim 1 further comprising:

a thermoelectric unit in gaseous communication with the entrance to the constricted convection channel.

4. A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:

a liquid crystal stack;

a backlight assembly behind the liquid crystal stack and comprising:

a metal core printed circuit board (PCB) having front and back sides;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on the front side of the PCB;

a posterior surface on the rear side of the PCB;

a constricted convection plate placed behind the posterior surface of the PCB, defining a constricted convection channel having an entrance and an exit; and

a fan positioned to draw air through the constricted convection channel.

5. The LCD from claim 4 further comprising:

an air conditioning unit in gaseous communication with the entrance to the constricted convection channel.

6. The LCD from claim 4 further comprising:

a thermoelectric unit in gaseous communication with the entrance to the constricted convection channel.

7. The LCD from claim 4 wherein:

the fan is placed near the exit of the constricted convection channel.

8. The LCD from claim 4 further comprising:

a plurality of access apertures through the constricted convection plate.

9. A system for cooling an electronic display comprising:

an electronic display comprising a front display surface and a posterior surface;

a constricted convection plate and a pair of sidewalls behind the posterior surface of the display, defining a constricted convection channel having an entrance and exit;

a gaseous closed loop traveling across the front display surface, behind the constricted convection plate, and returning to the front display surface;

a means for propelling gas around the closed loop;

a means for cooling the gas in the closed loop; and

a means for forcing air through the constricted convection channel.

10. The cooling system from claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of access apertures through the constricted convection plate.

11. The cooling system from claim 9 wherein:

the means for cooling the gas in the closed loop comprises a refrigeration unit.

12. The cooling system from claim 9 wherein:

the means for cooling the gas in the closed loop comprises a thermoelectric module.

13. The cooling system from claim 9 wherein:

the means for propelling the gas around the closed loop comprises a plurality of fans within the closed loop.

14. The cooling system from claim 12 wherein:

the means for propelling the gas around the closed loop comprises a plurality of fans within the thermoelectric module.

15. The cooling system from claim 11 wherein:

the means for propelling the gas around the closed loop comprises a plurality of fans within the refrigeration unit.

16. The cooling system from claim 9 wherein:

the means for forcing air through the constricted convection channel comprises a plurality of fans placed near the exit of the constricted convection channel.

17. The cooling system from claim 9 further comprising:

a means for cooling the air being forced through the constricted convection channel.

18. The cooling system from claim 9 wherein:

the electronic display comprises an LED backlight LCD display where the posterior surface is the rear surface of a backlight assembly.

19. The cooling system from claim 11 further comprising:

an ambient air intake and exhaust within the refrigeration unit.

20. The cooling system from claim 12 further comprising:

an ambient air intake and exhaust within the thermoelectric module.