Shared isolated gas cooling system for oppositely facing electronic displays

• US 8,373,841 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, WEN YING PATTY
• Application Number:
  US12/556,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20100226091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 349/161
• US Class Current: 349/161
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for cooling back to back electronic displays. Transparent first and second gas chambers are co-existive with the front display surfaces of the first and second electronic displays. A closed loop of isolated gas enters the first and second gas chambers and contacts the front surfaces of the electronic displays, where it may extract heat from the front display surfaces. The isolated gas is then directed into a cooling chamber where it is cooled and re-introduced into the first and second gas chambers. Fans may be used to propel the isolated gas through the cooling chamber and the first and second gas chambers. The circulating gas removes heat directly from the electronic display surfaces. The isolated gas is transparent or at least semi-transparent to ensure that the image quality of the electronic displays is minimally impacted.

Claims

1. An isolated gas cooling system for a first and second electronic display, the system comprising:

a first gas compartment placed at the front of the first display;

a second gas compartment placed at the front of the second display;

a third gas compartment in gaseous communication with the first and second gas compartments, said compartment having internal and external surfaces;

a first fan within the third gas compartment which propels gas around the first, second, and third gas compartments; and

a second fan which forces air over the external surfaces of the third gas compartment.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the first gas compartment comprises;

a display surface of the first electronic display;

a transparent plate placed in front of the display surface;

two spacing members between the display surface and the transparent plate; and

an inlet and exit opening.

3. The cooling system of claim 2 wherein:

the second gas compartment comprises;

a display surface of the second electronic display;

a transparent plate placed in front of the display surface;

two spacing members between the display surface and the transparent plate; and

an inlet and exit opening.

4. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the third gas compartment comprises a cooling plenum.

5. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the third gas compartment is placed between the first and second electronic displays.

6. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a thermostat in electrical communication with the fan within the third gas compartment.

7. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a particulate filter within the third gas chamber.

8. The cooling system of claim 4 further comprising:

surface features attached to the plenum which aid in heat dissipation.

9. A thermally regulated dual-display system comprising:

a first electronic display having a first display surface;

a second electronic display having a second display surface where the first and second displays are back to back;

a cooling plenum between the first and second displays;

a first gas chamber placed in front of and co-existive with the first display surface and in gaseous communication with the cooling plenum;

a second gas chamber placed in front of and co-existive with the second display surface and in gaseous communication with the cooling plenum;

a fan within the cooling plenum which propels isolated gas through the cooling plenum and the first and second gas chambers; and

a means for cooling the isolated gas.

10. The display system of claim 9 wherein:

the means for cooling the isolated gas comprises a fan which forces air over external surfaces of the plenum.

11. The display system of claim 10 further comprising:

a thermostat in electrical communication with the fan within the cooling plenum.

12. The display system of claim 11 further comprising:

a particulate filter within the cooling plenum.

13. The display system of claim 9 further comprising:

surface features attached to the plenum which aid in heat dissipation.

14. The display system of claim 9 wherein:

the means for cooling the isolated gas comprises an air conditioning unit.

15. The display system of claim 9 wherein:

the means for cooling the isolated gas comprises a thermoelectric module within the cooling plenum.

16. A method for cooling a first electronic display having a first display surface and a second electronic display having a second display surface where the first and second displays are back to back, the method comprising the steps of:

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

forcing isolated gas into the first and second gas chambers;

transferring heat from the first and second electronic display surfaces to the isolated gas;

directing the isolated gas into the cooling plenum;

cooling the isolated gas in the cooling plenum; and

reintroducing the cooled isolated gas into the first and second gas chambers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cooling step comprises the steps of:

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

forcing air over the external surfaces of the plenum.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

air conditioning the air before forcing it over the external surfaces of the plenum.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

filtering the isolated gas prior to forcing it into the first and second chambers.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the step of cooling the isolated gas in the cooling plenum comprises transferring heat from the isolated gas to a thermoelectric module within the cooling plenum.