SYSTEM FOR THERMALLY CONTROLLING DISPLAYS

• US 20090213304A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, Bedell, Ware, LeCave, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a system for thermally controlling an electronic display. A glass substrate containing a pyrolytic electrically conductive layer is utilized. The electrically conductive layer may be used as a passive thermal insulator or may be electrically energized to further heat the glass substrate. The glass may be used with a closed loop plenum which may further heat/cool the display. Additional glass layers may be added in order to polarize light or provide anti-reflective properties.

Claims

1. A system for thermally controlling an electronic display having a front viewable surface comprising:

a glass substrate placed in front of and substantially parallel to the front viewable surface of the electronic display; and

a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating disposed on a surface of the glass substrate.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said glass substrate is bonded to said front viewable surface of said electronic display.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source electrically connected to said pyrolytic electrically conductive coating.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating has a sheet resistance between 10 and 20 Ohms/sq.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating has a sheet resistance between 55 and 75 Ohms/sq.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said glass substrate is separated from said front viewable surface by a gap.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic display is any one of the following:

light emitting diode (LED), organic light emitting diode (OLED), field emitting display (FED), cathode ray tube (CRT), and plasma display.

9. A system for thermally controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD), said system comprising:

an LCD stack;

a glass substrate placed in front of and substantially parallel to said LCD stack;

a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating disposed on a surface of the glass substrate.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a power source electrically connected to said pyrolytic electrically conductive coating.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating has a sheet resistance between 10 and 20 Ohms/sq.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein:

said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating has a sheet resistance between 55 and 75 Ohms/sq.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a linear polarizer placed in front of said glass substrate.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

an anti-reflective glass layer placed in front of said linear polarizer.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said anti-reflective glass has a reflectance percentage of 1.0-3.0 percent.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a gap between said linear polarizer and said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein said glass substrate having a pyrolytic electrically conductive coating is bonded to said LCD stack.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A system for displaying information outdoors comprising:

a housing for a display mounted in an outdoor environment;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) within the housing;

a cooling assembly within the housing which cools the LCD; and

a heating assembly within the housing which heats the LCD.

22. The display system of claim 21 wherein:

the outdoor environment is a bus stop.

23. The display system of claim 21 wherein:

the outdoor environment is the side of a building.