Display enclosure

• US 8,212,959 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciil Technologies, LLC. (Peerless Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ciil Technologies, LLC. (Peerless Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moscovitch, Jerry, Yap, Luther V. Diaz, Wilk, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US13/281,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 349/56, 349/58, 349/59, 349/60, 349/72
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133328 Segmented frames
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2099 Liquid coolant with phase change

Abstract

A low profile display enclosure system for enclosing a display device for viewing that protects the display device from environmental effects and is configured to dissipate heat generated within the display enclosure. The substantially sealed display enclosure comprises a rigid bezel, a substantially transparent front cover coupled to the bezel, and a rear cover assembly that includes a heat sink portion. The thickness of the bezel is minimized to provide the enclosure with a low profile about the periphery of the display device enclosed therein. Thermal control devices may be mounted within the enclosure to modulate a temperature within the enclosure.

Claims

1. A protectively enclosed flat panel display device viewable from outside the enclosure, comprising:

a protective enclosure substantially impervious to liquid ingress under ambient conditions encountered in an outdoor environment, the protective enclosure comprising;

a rigid bezel defining a periphery of the protective enclosure, the rigid bezel characterized by a front bezel surface having a first opening,

a substantially transparent front cover coupled to the front bezel surface and covering the first opening, and

a rear cover assembly coupled to the rigid bezel;

a flat panel display device disposed within the enclosure such that the display area of the display device is substantially aligned with the first opening;

a heat pipe assembly having a first attachment portion coupled to the display device, and a second attachment portion coupled to the rear cover assembly; and

a thermal control device disposed at least partially within the enclosure and configured to modulate an internal temperature within the enclosure.

2. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal control device comprises a heating element.

3. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 2, wherein the heating element is configured to maintain the internal temperature above a lower threshold temperature of the display device.

4. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 2, further comprising a thermal control unit configured to modulate the internal temperature between the lower threshold temperature and an upper threshold temperature of the display device.

5. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply disposed within the enclosure, the power supply configured to supply electrical power to the display device and the thermal control device.

6. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, wherein the rigid bezel defines a lower opening configured to receive the flat panel display device upon introduction of the flat panel display into the protective enclosure, and wherein the lower opening is sealable by a lower plate selectively attachable to the rigid bezel.

7. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, wherein the rigid bezel further includes a front cover ledge configured to accept a portion of the substantially transparent front cover, and wherein the portion of the substantially transparent front cover is adhered to the rigid bezel, thereby forming a substantially water tight interface between the substantially transparent front cover and the rigid bezel.

8. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, wherein the substantially transparent front cover comprises a glass cover, the glass cover including an anti-reflective treatment to reduce reflection by the glass cover.

9. The protectively enclosed flat panel display device of claim 1, wherein the rigid bezel comprises a low profile bezel characterized by a bezel thickness defined by the normal distance between the periphery and the first opening, and wherein the bezel thickness is less than about 25 mm.

10. A display enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display device for viewing in an outdoor environment, comprising:

a rigid bezel characterized by a perimeter surface defining an enclosure area, the rigid bezel comprising;

a perimeter surface having a rear edge and a front edge;

a rear surface extending inwardly from the rear edge; and

a front surface extending inwardly from the front edge and defining a display opening, the display opening characterized by an area at least about 85 percent of the enclosure area;

a substantially transparent front cover disposed over the display opening; and

a rear cover assembly, at least a portion of the rear cover assembly configured to dissipate heat generated within the display enclosure to the environment,

wherein the rigid bezel, the front cover and the rear cover substantially define the display enclosure configured to receive the flat panel display device therein.

11. The display mount of claim 10, wherein the display enclosure is resistant to liquid ingress in an outdoor viewing environment.

12. The display mount of claim 11, further comprising:

a thermal control unit located within the display enclosure, the thermal control unit configured to receive a temperature input from a temperature sensing element responsive to a temperature within the enclosure; and

a selectively operable thermal control device located within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the thermal control unit.

13. The display enclosure of claim 11, wherein the display opening is at least about 92 percent of the enclosure area.

14. The display enclosure of claim 11, wherein the front cover comprises a substantially transparent cover having a peripheral region extending over a portion of the front surface, thereby providing a substantially water tight interface between the front surface and substantially transparent cover.

15. An enclosed display device, comprising:

a substantially sealed protective enclosure configured for outdoor use, the protective enclosure comprising;

a rigid bezel having a low profile characterized by a display opening and a lower opening, the rigid bezel substantially defining an outer peripheral surface of the protective enclosure and further defining the display opening,

a front cover coupled to the rigid bezel and covering the display opening,

a rear cover selectively coupled to the rigid bezel, and

a lower plate configured to selectively cover the lower opening; and

a display device disposed within the enclosure, the display device including a display area viewable through the front cover, the display device insertable into the sealed protective enclosure through the lower opening.

16. The enclosed display device of claim 15, wherein the bezel thickness is less than about 50 mm.

17. The enclosed display device of claim 15, further comprising:

a power supply disposed within the protective enclosure; and

a display device controller electrically coupled to the power supply and the display device.

18. The enclosed display device of claim 17, further comprising a selectively operable thermal control device disposed within the enclosure, the at least one selectively operable thermal control device configured to modulate an internal temperature within the substantially sealed protective enclosure.

19. The enclosed display device of claim 15, further comprising a heat pipe assembly disposed within the protective enclosure, the heat pipe assembly coupled to the display device and the rear cover.

20. The enclosed display device of claim 15, wherein the rear cover assembly includes a plurality of mount attachment features configured to operatively couple a surface mount to a mounting surface.