Image display device

• US 9,338,923 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jiyong, Lee, Hyunchul, Han, Sungwook
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffberg, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US14/445,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/045 Protection against panel overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20009 using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

An image display device is provided that efficiently cools a display and internal circuit components thereof. The image display device includes a display for displaying visual information, circuit components spaced apart from a rear side of the display, a fan installed on the rear side of the display that generates an airflow from one side of the display to the other side of the display so as to cool the display and the circuit components, and an airflow distribution device facing the fan to selectively distribute the airflow generated by the fan towards the display and the circuit components based on temperatures of the display and the circuit components.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

a display for displaying visual information;

circuit components spaced apart from a rear side of the display;

a fan installed near a first end of the display, to a rear of the display, and generating an airflow from a first end of the display to a second end of the display so as to cool the display and the circuit components;

an airflow distribution device that faces the fan and is configured to selectively distribute the airflow generated by the fan towards the display and the circuit components based on respective temperatures of the display and the circuit components; and

a controller configured to control the fan and the airflow distribution device based on the temperatures of the display and the circuit components.

2. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the airflow distribution device comprises:

a driving motor configured to generate a rotation force; and

a plate having a proximal end thereof coupled to the driving motor so as to be rotated by the driving force generated by the driving motor such that the airflow generated by the fan is asymmetrically distributed to the display and the circuit components based on the respective temperatures thereof.

3. The image display device of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the plate is tapered so as to guide air flowing parallel to the plate in a corresponding direction.

4. The image display device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board spaced apart from the rear side of the display and electrically connected to the display and the circuit components,

wherein the circuit components are mounted on a side of the printed circuit board opposite a side of the printed circuit board facing the rear side of the display so as to prevent concentration of heat in a space between the circuit components and the display.

5. The image display device of claim 4, further comprising a separating plate installed spaced apart from the rear side of the display so as to support the printed circuit board, wherein the separating plate is positioned parallel to the display so as to separate airflow generated by the fan into a first air stream to be distributed to the display and a second airstream to be distributed to the circuit components.

6. The image display device of claim 5, wherein the airflow distribution device is installed at a lateral end of the separating plate so as to face the fan.

7. The image display device of claim 2, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the airflow distribution device to determine an angle of rotation of the driving motor and the plate coupled thereto so as to control a direction of the airflow generated by the fan and distributed to the display and the circuit components.

8. The image display device of claim 7, further comprising temperature sensors that measure the temperatures of the display and the circuit components, the temperature sensors comprising:

a first temperature sensor installed on the rear side of the display to measure the temperature of the display; and

a second temperature sensor installed on a printed circuit board on which the circuit components are mounted to measure the temperature of the circuit components.

9. The image display device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to determine the angle of rotation of the driving motor and the plate coupled thereto based on the temperatures of the display and the circuit components measured by the temperature sensors.

10. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to rotate the driving motor and the plate coupled thereto at a preset angle at preset time intervals based on previously set data related to an installation environment of the image display device.

11. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the image display device further comprises a frame coupled to the display and configured to receive the circuit components and the fan in a space formed between the frame and the display,

the frame comprising vents on one or more sides thereof so as to guide outside air into the space and exhaust the airflow generated by the fan.

12. The image display device of claim 7, further comprising an airflow direction control device coupled to the fan and configured to change an orientation direction of a rotation axis of the fan within a preset range to change a direction of the airflow generated by the fan.

13. The image display device of claim 12, wherein the airflow direction control device is rotatably coupled to the fan about a rotation axis which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fan, so as to control the orientation direction of the rotation axis of the fan.

14. The image display device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the airflow direction control device to generate a particular airflow direction of the fan based on the temperatures of the display and the circuit components.

15. The image display device of claim 12, wherein the airflow direction control device operates together with the airflow distribution device to orient the rotation axis of the fan towards either the display or the circuit components corresponding to a position of the airflow distribution device.

16. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the airflow distribution device comprises:

a first airflow distributor rotatably installed adjacent to the fan so as to be positioned at an incline with respect to the display and asymmetrically distribute the airflow generated by the fan to the display and the circuit components; and

a second airflow distributor rotatably installed spaced apart from the fan and downstream of the first airflow distributor so as to be positioned at an incline with respect to the display and maintain the airflow distribution direction of the first airflow distributor.

17. The image display device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to position the first airflow distributor at an incline with respect to the rear side of the display to guide the airflow generated by the fan to the circuit components.

18. The image display device of claim 16, further comprising a frame coupled to the display such that a receiving space is formed between the display and the frame, and the fan, the airflow distribution device and the circuit components are installed in the receiving space, the image display device further comprising:

a separating plate installed in the receiving space, spaced apart from and positioned in parallel to the rear side of the display and the frame to separate airflow flowing through the receiving space, wherein the second airflow distributor is rotatably coupled to an end of the separating plate facing the fan; and

a printed circuit board installed on a side of the separating plate facing the frame, the circuit components being mounted on the printed circuit board,

wherein the first airflow distributor comprises;

a first lower distributor rotatably coupled to the rear side of the display, near the fan; and

a first upper distributor rotatably coupled to the frame, at a position corresponding to the first lower distributor.

19. The image display device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to

rotate the first upper airflow distributor away from the frame, maintain the first lower airflow distributor in a position against the rear side of the display, and to rotate the second airflow distributor toward the frame to distribute air generated by the fan to the display, and

rotate the first lower airflow distributor away from the rear side of the display, maintain the first upper airflow distributor in a position against the frame, and to rotate the second airflow distributor toward the rear side of the display to distribute air generated by the fan to the circuit components.

20. The image display device of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust fan installed near a second end of the display opposite the first end thereof, to the rear of the display, to exhaust the airflow generated by the fan,

wherein the fan and the exhaust fan are positioned to the rear of the display, at opposite ends of the display, symmetrical to each other.