Figure eight closed loop cooling system for electronic display

• US 9,470,924 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, O'Connor, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US14/326,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20150009627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 361694-697, 165/9.3, 165/104.34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell
• 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

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways wrapping around an electronic display. One or more open loop ambient air pathways may pass through the figure eight but do not allow the circulating gas and the ambient air to mix. In some embodiments, the open loop ambient air pathway travels along a rear surface of the electronic display. In some embodiments, the circulating gas pathways contain a front channel placed in front of the electronic display, a rear channel placed behind the electronic display, and a center channel placed between the front and rear channels. Pass-through apertures may be placed within the path of the circulating gas and/or the ambient air to allow the paths of the two gaseous matters to cross without allowing them to mix with one another.

Claims

1. A cooling assembly for an electronic display comprising:

a figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways wrapping around the electronic display so as to cover at least a front portion of a viewable area of the electronic display; and

an open loop ambient air pathway passing through the figure eight which does not allow circulating gas to mix with ambient gas.

2. The cooling assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a front channel defined between a front surface of the electronic display and a transparent plate;

wherein the figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways includes the front channel.

3. The cooling assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

a rear channel containing electronic components which are mounted to a rear plate;

wherein the figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways includes the rear channel.

4. The cooling assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

a center channel placed between the front channel and rear channel;

wherein the figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways includes the center channel.

5. The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the open loop ambient air pathway travels along a rear surface of the electronic display.

6. The cooling assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the open loop ambient air pathway travels along a side of the rear plate which is opposite the side containing the electronic components.

7. The cooling assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of pass-through apertures placed within the figure eight closed loop of circulating gas pathways.

8. The cooling assembly of claim 7 wherein:

the pass-through apertures are arranged such that the circulating gas travels through the center of the aperture while the open loop ambient air passes around the aperture.

9. The cooling assembly of claim 7 wherein:

the pass-through apertures are arranged to prevent the circulating gas from mixing with the open loop ambient air.

10. A cooling assembly for an electronic display comprising:

a closed loop of gas pathways for circulating gas comprising

a front channel placed in front of the electronic display,

a rear channel placed behind the electronic display, and

a center channel placed between the front and rear channels;

a first open loop pathway for ambient air positioned between the electronic display and the center channel; and

a second open loop pathway for ambient air positioned between the center channel and the rear channel.

11. The cooling assembly of claim 10 further comprising:

a closed loop fan positioned to force circulating gas through the closed loop of gas pathways; and

an open loop fan positioned to force ambient air through the first and second open loop pathways.

12. The cooling assembly of claim 10 further comprising:

a rear plate having a posterior and anterior side and placed within the rear channel;

a plurality of electronic components attached to the posterior side of the rear plate; and

wherein the anterior side of the rear plate forms a portion of the second open loop pathway.

13. The cooling assembly of claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of pass-through apertures positioned within the first open loop pathway.

14. The cooling assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the pass-through apertures contain a hole in the center and are arranged such that the circulating gas travels through the hole in the center while the ambient air travels around the pass-through aperture.

15. The cooling assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the second open loop pathway and the rear channel share a plate such that a side of the plate is within the rear channel while an opposing side of the plate is within the second open loop pathway.

16. The cooling assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the center channel is placed between the first and second open loop pathways.

17. A cooling assembly for an electronic display comprising:

a front channel defined by the space between a front surface of the electronic display and a transparent plate;

a first open loop pathway defined by the space between a rear surface of the electronic display and a front plate;

a rear plate positioned behind the electronic display and having a first side forming part of a rear channel and an opposing side forming part of a second open loop pathway;

a center channel placed between the first and second open loop pathways;

a closed loop fan positioned to force circulating gas through the front channel, rear channel, and center channel; and

an open loop fan positioned to force ambient air through the first and second open loop pathways.

18. The cooling assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of pass-through apertures placed within the path of the circulating gas.

19. The cooling assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of electronic components attached to the side of the rear plate forming part of the rear channel.

20. The cooling assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of cooling fins placed within the first and second open loop pathways.