Lighting system for transparent liquid crystal display

• US 8,988,635 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, Presley, Harry, Brown, Mike, Tran, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, THOI V
• Application Number:
  US13/650,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 349/58, 349/161, 349/65, 349/61, 349/62, 349/57, 349/95, 349/66, 362/92, 362/97.3, 362/249.02, 362/335, 362/94, 362/97.1, 362/612, 362/613, 362/630, 362/631, 362/632, 362/97.2, 362/339
• US Class Current: 349/65
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/0033 on refrigerated containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/0058 on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/04 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/06 the advertising matter being combined with articles for restaurants, shops or offices on paper articles G09F23/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/065 Advertising in food vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/18 using liquid crystals

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a lighting system for a transparent LCD having opposing vertical edges, the system having a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining a center channel. A plurality of LEDs are positioned along the sidewall of each mullion assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel. The LEDs are preferably placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall. A fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel. A lens may be positioned adjacent to the LEDs to collimate the light. Louvers may be used to direct the emitted light away from the LCD, so as to reflect off the goods within a display case or the cavity within the display case. Some embodiments may use a flange to direct the emitted light away from the LCD.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a transparent LCD having opposing vertical edges, the system comprising:

a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining an enclosed center channel and;

a plurality of LEDs positioned along the sidewall of each mullion lighting assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel, said LEDs placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall;

a fan positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel; and

a dividing element positioned near a mid-point of the center channel, which divides the center channel into a first and a second portion; and

a plurality of apertures in the sidewall which allow cooling air to enter and exit the center channel;

wherein the fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the first portion and a second fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the second portion.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply for driving the LEDs, placed in conductive thermal communication with a sidewall.

3. The lighting system of claim 2 further comprising:

an aperture within the sidewall which allows cooling air to pass over the power supply for driving the LEDs.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a thermal fin positioned within the center channel and in conductive thermal communication with a sidewall.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens positioned adjacent to the LEDs.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 further comprising:

collimating elements within the lens and positioned adjacent to each LED.

7. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flange extending from a sidewall adjacent to the LEDs and positioned at an acute angle relative to the transparent LCD.

8. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a vertical louver position on each side of the LED and angled away from the LCD.

9. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for directing the light emitted from the LEDs away from the LCD.

10. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

vertical louvers positioned adjacent to the LEDs and adapted to prevent headlighting through the LCD.

11. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flange extending from the LEDs and adapted to prevent headlighting through the LCD.

12. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the LEDs are oriented such that a central axis of each LED is angled away from the LCD.

13. A lighting system for a first and second transparent LCD positioned side-by-side, the system comprising:

a mullion lighting assembly positioned between the first and second LCDs and having sidewalls defining a center channel where a first portion of the sidewall is adjacent to the first LCD and a second portion of the sidewall is adjacent to the second LCD;

a first plurality of LEDs positioned along the first portion of the sidewall and having a central axis that is angled away from the first LCD;

a second plurality of LEDs positioned along the second portion of the sidewall and having a central axis that is angled away from the second LCD;

a dividing element positioned near a mid-point of the center channel, which divides the center channel into a first and a second portion;

a plurality of apertures in the sidewall which allow cooling air to enter and exit the center channel;

a first fan positioned to draw cooling air through the first portion of the center channel; and

a second fan positioned to draw cooling air through the second portion.

14. The lighting system of claim 13 wherein:

the first plurality of LEDs are in conductive thermal communication with the first portion of the sidewall; and

the second plurality of LEDs are in conductive thermal communication with the second portion of the sidewall.

15. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a power supply for driving the LEDs, placed in conductive thermal communication with a sidewall.

16. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a thermal fin positioned within the center channel and in conductive thermal communication with a sidewall.

17. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a lens positioned adjacent to the first and second plurality of LEDs.

18. The lighting system of claim 17 further comprising:

collimating elements within the lens and positioned adjacent to each LED.

19. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a first flange extending from the first sidewall portion and positioned at an acute angle relative to the first LCD; and

a second flange extending from the second sidewall portion and positioned at an acute angle relative to the second LCD.

20. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a vertical louver position on each side of the first plurality of LEDs and angled away from the first LCD; and

a vertical louver positioned on each side of the second plurality of LEDs and angled away from the second LCD.

21. The lighting system of claim 13 further comprising:

a means for directing the light emitted from the first plurality of LEDs away from the first LCD; and

a means for directing the light emitted from the second plurality of LEDs away from the second LCD.

22. A lighting system for the door of a display case, the door having a transparent LCD positioned behind a front glass where the LCD has a pair of vertical edges, the system comprising:

a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining an enclosed center channel;

a plurality of LEDs positioned along a sidewall of each mullion lighting assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel, said LEDs placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall;

a dividing element positioned near a mid-point of the center channel, which divides the center channel into a first and a second portion;

a first fan positioned to draw cooling air through the first portion;

a second fan positioned to draw cooling air through the second portion;

a door sensor positioned to determine whether the door is open or closed; and

a microprocessor in electrical communication with the LEDs, fan, and door sensor.

23. The lighting system of claim 22 wherein:

the microprocessor is adapted to turn off the LEDs when the door is open and further adapted to turn on the LEDs when the door is closed.

24. The lighting system of claim 22 further comprising:

a temperature sensor positioned near the LEDs and in electrical communication with the microprocessor.

25. The lighting system of claim 24 wherein:

the microprocessor is adapted to

determine if the door is open or closed and determine if the measured temperature is above a maximum temperature Tmax.

26. The lighting system of claim 25 wherein:

the microprocessor is further adapted to

turn off power to the LEDs and fan if the door is open;

send power to the LEDs and the fan if the temperature is over Tmax and the door is closed, and

send power to the LEDs and turning off power to the fan if the temperature is below Tmax and the door is closed.