DISPLAY ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF DISPLAY

• US 20070081344A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Esterline Belgium BVBA (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Barco NV
• Inventors: Cappaert, Bart, Schroeyers, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133385 with cooling means, e.g. fans
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133622 Colour sequential illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133628 with cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/60 Temperature independent

Abstract

Applications of embodiments include the use of transmissive or transflective display technologies in extreme temperature environments. Specifically, display assemblies and methods using heating and/or active cooling are described. For example, such applications may include the use of display panels, such as LCD panels, having a diagonal dimension of 17 inches or more.

Claims

1. A display assembly comprising:

a heat sink;

a light source thermally coupled to said heat sink;

a liquid crystal display panel arranged to transmit light produced by said light source;

thermal insulation disposed to thermally insulate said liquid crystal panel from heat generated by said light source; and

an active cooling device arranged to actively transfer heat away from said liquid crystal display panel and to a side of said thermal insulation facing said heat sink.

6. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said thermal insulation includes a substantially planar layer disposed to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel.

7. The display assembly according claim 1, said assembly comprising at least one fan arranged to circulate a heat transfer medium on a side of said thermal insulation facing away from said heat sink.

8. The display assembly according to claim 1, said assembly comprising a substantially planar thermal conductor disposed between said liquid crystal display panel and said thermal insulation and arranged to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein said thermal conductor has a thermal conductivity at least equal to eighty watts per (meters times degrees Kelvin).

9. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said thermal insulation is configured to thermally insulate said liquid crystal display panel from an ambient environment of the display assembly.

10. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said thermal insulation extends across at least the front and back surfaces of said liquid crystal display panel.

11. The display assembly according to claim 1, said assembly comprising a heater located on a side of said thermal insulation facing said liquid crystal display panel.

13. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said active cooling device includes at least one among (A) a semiconductor thermoelectric device and (B) a refrigeration unit having a compressor and a heat exchanger.

14. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said active cooling device includes a Peltier device.

16. The display assembly according to claim 11, said assembly comprising a substantially planar thermal conductor disposed between said liquid crystal display panel and said thermal barrier and arranged to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein said thermal conductor has a thermal conductivity at least equal to eighty watts per (meters times degrees Kelvin),

wherein said heater is disposed on said thermal conductor.

17. The display assembly according to claim 11, wherein said heater comprises a layer in an optical stack that includes said liquid crystal display panel.

23. The display assembly according to claim 1, said assembly comprising a rigid light guide arranged to illuminate a back surface of said liquid crystal display panel with light received from said light source.

24. The display assembly according to claim 1, said assembly comprising a light guide arranged to transport light from said light source to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein at least a portion of said light guide is a hollow structure having a reflective interior wall.

25. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said light source includes at least one among a light-emitting diode and a fluorescent lamp.

26. The display assembly according to claim 1, said assembly comprising:

a metallic bezel disposed to cover a perimeter of said liquid crystal display panel; and

a gasket arranged to thermally insulate said metallic bezel from heat generated by said light source.

27. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said light source includes at least one light-emitting diode,

said assembly comprising a control circuit configured to modulate a light output of said light-emitting diode at a modulation frequency of 1/n times a frame rate of said liquid crystal display panel, wherein n is an integer greater than zero.

2. A display assembly comprising:

a thermal barrier;

a heat sink located on a first side of said thermal barrier;

a light source thermally coupled to said heat sink;

a liquid crystal display panel (A) located on a second side of said thermal barrier opposite the first side and (B) arranged to transmit light produced by said light source; and

an active cooling device arranged to actively transfer heat from the second side of said thermal barrier to the first side of said thermal barrier.

12. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising a heater located on the second side of said thermal barrier.

18. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said thermal barrier includes a substantially planar layer disposed to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel.

19. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising at least one fan arranged to circulate a heat transfer medium on a side of said thermal barrier facing away from said heat sink.

20. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising a substantially planar thermal conductor disposed between said liquid crystal display panel and said thermal barrier and arranged to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein said thermal conductor has a thermal conductivity at least equal to eighty watts per (meters times degrees Kelvin).

21. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said thermal barrier is configured to thermally insulate said liquid crystal display panel from an ambient environment of the display assembly.

22. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said thermal barrier extends across at least the front and back surfaces of said liquid crystal display panel.

47. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said active cooling device includes at least one among (A) a semiconductor thermoelectric device and (B) a refrigeration unit having a compressor and a heat exchanger.

48. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said active cooling device includes a Peltier device.

49. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising a rigid light guide arranged to illuminate a back surface of said liquid crystal display panel with light received from said light source.

50. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising a light guide arranged to transport light from said light source to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein at least a portion of said light guide is a hollow structure having a reflective interior wall.

51. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said light source includes at least one among a light-emitting diode and a fluorescent lamp.

52. The display assembly according to claim 2, said assembly comprising:

a metallic bezel disposed to cover a perimeter of said liquid crystal display panel; and

a gasket arranged to thermally insulate said metallic bezel from heat generated by said light source.

53. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein said light source includes at least one light-emitting diode,

said assembly comprising a control circuit configured to modulate a light output of said light-emitting diode at a modulation frequency of 1/n times a frame rate of said liquid crystal display panel, wherein n is an integer greater than zero.

54. The display assembly according to claim 12, said assembly comprising a substantially planar thermal conductor disposed between said liquid crystal display panel and said thermal barrier and arranged to be substantially parallel to said liquid crystal display panel, wherein said thermal conductor has a thermal conductivity at least equal to eighty watts per (meters times degrees Kelvin),

wherein said heater is disposed on said thermal conductor.

55. The display assembly according to claim 12, wherein said heater comprises a layer in an optical stack that includes said liquid crystal display panel.

3. A display assembly comprising:

a thermal barrier;

a light source located on a first side of said thermal barrier;

a liquid crystal display panel (A) located on a second side of said thermal barrier opposite the first side and (B) arranged to transmit light produced by said light source; and

a heater located on the second side of said thermal barrier.

4. A display assembly comprising:

a thermal barrier;

a light source located on a first side of said thermal barrier;

a liquid crystal display panel (A) located on a second side of said thermal barrier opposite the first side and (B) arranged to transmit light produced by said light source; and

a heater arranged to increase the temperature of said liquid crystal display panel with respect to a temperature of the ambient environment of said assembly.

5. A display assembly comprising:

a light source;

a liquid crystal display panel;

means for thermally insulating said liquid crystal display panel from heat generated by said light source;

means for transporting light produced by said light source from a first side of said means for thermally insulating to a second side of said means for thermally insulating;

on the second side of said means for thermally insulating, means for directing the transported light through said liquid crystal display panel; and

means for actively transporting heat energy from a cooler side of said means for thermally insulating to a warmer side of said means for thermally insulating.

56. The display assembly according to claim 5, wherein said light source includes at least one among a light-emitting diode and a fluorescent lamp.

57. The display assembly according to claim 5, said assembly comprising:

a metallic bezel disposed to cover a perimeter of said liquid crystal display panel; and

a gasket arranged to thermally insulate said metallic bezel from heat generated by said light source.

58. The display assembly according to claim 5, wherein said light source includes at least one light-emitting diode,

said assembly comprising a control circuit configured to modulate a light output of said light-emitting diode at a modulation frequency of 1/n times a frame rate of said liquid crystal display panel, wherein n is an integer greater than zero.

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30. A method of image display, said method comprising:

operating a light source to produce light, where the light source is thermally coupled to a heat sink;

transporting the produced light from a first side of a thermal barrier to a second side of the thermal barrier opposite to the first side;

on the second side of the thermal barrier, directing the transported light through a liquid crystal display panel; and

during said operating a light source, using at least one active cooling device to actively transport heat from the second side of the thermal barrier to the first side.

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