Constricted convection cooling system for an electronic display
View Patent ↗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.
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.