Electronic information board

• US 7,813,124 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbicon Oy
• Original Assignee: Symbicon Oy
• Inventors: Karppanen, Pasi
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US12/297,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.46, 361/679.01, 361/679.56, 361/679.27, 361/679.47, 349/58, 349/59, 349/60, 349/110, 165/104.32, 165/185, 165/56, 345/1.3, 345/173, 345/88, 345/679, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 248/917, 248/920, 248/924, 211/189, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.5
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133385 with cooling means, e.g. fans
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/36 Airflow channels, e.g. constructional arrangements facilitating the flow of air
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

An electronic information board includes a frame, a flat display element and electronic equipment for controlling the display element. The information board includes a display casing for the display element and a device casing for the electronic equipment, such as a control unit and power supply. The display element is supported preferably with flexible support elements to the display casing so that there is a gap between the front and back surfaces of the display element and the walls of the display casing enabling the circulation of air. Cooling system transfers heat from the display casing and the device casing to the outside of the casings. The cooling system includes circulating fans placed in the fan casing with which an air flow is generated through the display casing and the device casing.

Claims

1. An electronic information board comprising a frame (40), a flat display element (30) for displaying information, electronic equipment (62) for controlling the operation of the information board, a display casing (50), inside of which said display element has been placed, and a device casing (60), inside of which said electronic equipment have been placed, characterized in that:

in the walls of the display casing and device casing there are flow holes (64a, 64b, 64d) for forming an air flow passage from the device casing to the display casing and from the display casing back to the device casing, and the information board further comprises;

means for arranging closed circulation of cooling air through the display casing and the device casing and;

a cooling device for cooling the air flowing through the display casing (50) and the device casing (60).

2. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that the display casing (50) comprises a transparent front plate (54), an edge part (56) and a back wall (52), whereupon the display element (30) has been supported to the display casing by support elements (48) in such a way that between the front surface of the display element and the front plate as well as the back surface of the display element and the back wall there is a gap enabling the circulation of air.

3. An information board according to claim 2, characterized in that in the device casing (60) there is at least a control unit of the information board, a power supply of the control unit and a power supply of the display'"'"'s background light.

4. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that in the device casing (60) there is at least a control unit of the information board, a power supply of the control unit and a power supply of the display'"'"'s background light.

5. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for arranging closed circulation of cooling air comprise at least one circulating fan (72) for generating an air flow through the display casing (50) and the device casing (60).

6. An information board according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a fan casing (70) in which said at least one circulating fan (72) has been placed.

7. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that said cooling device is a cross-flow cell (80) comprising first air ducts running in the first direction of flow and second air ducts running in the second direction of flow.

8. An information board according to claim 7, characterized in that the device casing (60) and the fan casing (70) have been fastened to the back wall (52) of the display casing (50), the cross-flow cell (80) have been placed between the device casing and the fan casing, and in the walls of the display casing, device casing and fan casings there are flow holes (64a, 64b, 64c, 64d) for forming a closed air flow passage leading from the fan casing through the cross-flow cell to the device casing, from the device casing to the display casing and from the display casing to the fan casing.

9. An information board according to claim 7, characterized in that on its opposing sides there are ventilation slots (78) for enabling air flow from the outside of the information board into the cross-flow cell (80) and back to the outside of the information board.

10. An information board according to claim 8, characterized in that it has at least one cooling fan (76) for generating an air flow cooling the cross-flow cell via the second air ducts of the cross-flow cell (80).

11. An information board according to claim 10, characterized in that on its opposing sides there are ventilation slots (78) for enabling air flow from the outside of the information board into the cross-flow cell (80) and back to the outside of the information board.

12. An information board according to claim 8, characterized in that on its opposing sides there are ventilation slots (78) for enabling air flow from the outside of the information board into the cross-flow cell (80) and back to the outside of the information board.

13. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a heating device, such as an electric resistance, for warming the air flowing through the display casing (50) and the device casing (60).

14. An information board according to claim 13, characterized in that said heating device, such as an electric resistance, has been placed in the fan casing (70).

15. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that the display casing (50) and the device casing (60) have been encased in a weatherproof manner for conducting the updating and maintenance measures taking place in outdoor conditions.

16. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that the display element (30) is a TFT LCD display, a plasma display, a LED display or an organic LED display.

17. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that its depth in the direction of the normal of the front plate is less than 25 cm.

18. An information board according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of the display element (30) correspond to those of the paper posters used in illuminated advertisements.