Isolated Gas Cooling System for an Electronic Display

• US 20090126906A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: DUNN, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,767,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.310
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

A preferred embodiment relates to a cooling system and a method for cooling an electronic display. Exemplary embodiments include a transparent gas cooling chamber. The components in the system are preferably housed within the electronic display housing. The cooling chamber defines a gas compartment that is anterior to and coextensive with the electronic display surface. Fans may be used to propel the isolated gas through the cooling chamber. The circulating gas removes heat directly from the electronic display surface by convection. The isolated gas is transparent or at least semi-transparent. The image quality of an exemplary embodiment remains essentially unchanged, even though the gas is flowing through a narrow channel over the visible face of the electronic display surface.

Claims

1. A gas cooling system for an electronic display having a display surface, the system comprising:

a first gas chamber positioned anterior to the electronic display surface;

a second gas chamber in gaseous communication with said first gas chamber and adapted to cool gas;

a cooling chamber fan within said second gas chamber to propel gas around the first and second gas chambers; and

means for cooling the gas contained within the second gas chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first gas chamber comprises a transparent anterior plate; and

the second gas chamber comprises a cooling plenum.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first gas chamber further comprises

the electronic display surface;

spacers separating the electronic display surface and said transparent anterior plate; and

an entrance opening and an exit opening.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the first gas chamber further comprises a second transparent anterior plate bonded to the first transparent anterior plate.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the plenum is adapted to extract heat from the gas.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gas chamber is adapted to transfer heat from the electronic display area to the gas.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the fan runs continuously when the electronic display is operating.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensing device within said first gas chamber;

a switch in communication with said temperature sensing device and said fan; and

wherein the fan is switched on when the temperature within the first gas chamber reaches a threshold value.

9. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

surface features within said plenum to facilitate the transfer of heat away from the gas.

10. The system of claim 2 further comprising

one or more thermoelectric modules within said plenum.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a filter within the second gas chamber.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the means for cooling the gas contained within the second gas chamber comprises a fan adapted to force air over the external surfaces of the plenum.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the fan below the plenum is forcing air which has been air conditioned.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

an air curtain device to direct air across the external surface of the first gas chamber.

15. A thermally regulated electronic display comprising:

an electronic display having a display surface;

a first gas chamber positioned anterior to the display surface of the electronic display and adapted to transfer heat from the display surface to a gas;

a second gas chamber in gaseous communication with said first gas chamber,

said second gas chamber comprising

a cooling plenum;

a cooling chamber fan to propel gas around the first and second gas chambers; and

means for cooling the gas contained within the cooling plenum.

16. The display from claim 15 further wherein

the means for cooling the gas contained within the cooling plenum comprises

a fan adapted to force air over the external surfaces of the plenum.

17. A method for cooling an electronic display having a display surface with isolated gas, comprising the steps of:

providing an isolated gas system comprising a first gas chamber which is in contact with the electronic display surface and a second gas chamber comprising a cooling plenum, wherein the first and second gas chambers are in gaseous communication;

forcing isolated gas into the first gas chamber;

transferring heat from the electronic display surface to the isolated gas;

directing the isolated gas into the cooling plenum;

cooling the isolated gas in the plenum; and

reintroducing the cooled isolated gas into the first gas chamber.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the cooling step comprises the steps of:

transferring heat from the isolated gas to the walls of the cooling plenum;

forcing air over the external surfaces of the plenum; and

transferring heat from the walls of the cooling plenum to the air.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the isolated gas moves in a substantially horizontal direction.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of filtering the isolated gas prior to forcing it into the first chamber.