Heat exchanger for an electronic display

• US 9,801,305 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, Hubbard, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): BLEVINS, JERRY M
• Application Number:
  US14/834,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20150366101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 349161, 361696
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/00 Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall F28F3/083, F28F3/086 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133385 with cooling means, e.g. fans
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20136 Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans H05K7/202 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20163 the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/202 Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

A cooling assembly for an electronic image assembly having an open and closed gaseous loop. A closed gaseous loop allows circulating gas to travel across the front surface of an image assembly and through a heat exchanger. An open loop allows ambient gas to pass through the heat exchanger and extract heat from the circulating gas. An optional additional open loop may be used to cool the back portion of the image assembly (optionally a backlight). Ribs may be placed within the optional additional open loop to facilitate the heat transfer to the ambient gas. The cooling assembly can be used with any type of electronic assembly for producing an image.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an electronic image assembly having a front and rear portion, the system comprising:

an open loop ambient air flow path along the rear portion of the electronic image assembly;

a closed loop gas circulation path encircling the electronic image assembly;

a common heat exchanger in gaseous communication with both the open loop ambient air flow path and the closed loop gas circulation path;

one or more fans positioned to force circulating gas through the heat exchanger; and

one or more fans positioned to force ambient air through the heat exchanger.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the heat exchanger is configured to substantially isolate the ambient air flow path from the closed loop gas circulation path.

3. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a front display surface spaced apart from the front portion of the electronic image assembly; and

a front channel defined by the space between the front display surface and the front portion of the electronic image assembly, the front channel forming part of the closed loop gas circulation path.

4. The cooling system of claim 3 wherein:

the heat exchanger is in gaseous communication with the front channel.

5. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plate spaced apart from the rear portion of the electronic image assembly; and

a rear channel defined by the space between the plate and the rear portion of the electronic image assembly;

wherein the ambient air flow path travels through the rear channel.

6. The cooling system of claim 5 further comprising:

a plurality of ribs placed within the rear channel.

7. The cooling system of claim 6 further comprising:

a power module in thermal communication with the ribs.

8. The cooling system of claim 6 wherein:

the ribs have a hollow rectangular cross-section.

9. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the open loop ambient air flow path is substantially perpendicular to the closed loop gas circulation path.

10. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the heat exchanger is comprised of several layers of corrugated plastic.

11. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein:

the heat exchanger is a counter-flow heat exchanger.

12. An electronic display comprising:

an electronic image assembly having a front and rear portion;

a closed loop gas circulation path encircling the electronic image assembly;

a plate spaced apart from the rear portion of the electronic image assembly;

a rear channel defined by the space between the plate and the rear portion of the electronic image assembly;

an open loop ambient air flow path passing through the rear channel;

a common heat exchanger having first and second gas pathways, where the first pathway is in gaseous communication with the rear channel and the second gas pathway is in gaseous communication with the closed loop gas circulation path;

one or more fans placed within the closed loop gas circulation path;

one or more fans placed within the open loop ambient air flow path.

13. The electronic display of claim 12 wherein:

the heat exchanger is a cross-flow heat exchanger.

14. The electronic display of claim 12 wherein:

the heat exchanger is comprised of a plurality of layers of corrugated plastic.

15. The electronic display of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of ribs placed within the rear channel.

16. The electronic display of claim 12 wherein:

the open loop ambient air flow path is substantially isolated from the closed loop gas circulation path.

17. The electronic display of claim 12 wherein:

the open loop ambient air flow path is arranged substantially perpendicular to the closed loop gas circulation path.

18. An electronic display comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) having an LED backlight;

a transparent front display plate spaced apart from the LCD;

a front channel defined by the space between the front display plate and the LCD;

a rear channel defined by a space between the LED backlight and a rear plate;

a heat exchanger having first and second gas pathways, where the first pathway is configured to accept circulating gas and to direct the circulating gas through the front channel, and the second pathway is configured to accept ambient air and to direct the ambient air through the rear channel;

one or more fans positioned to force circulating gas through the front channel and the first gas pathway of the heat exchanger; and

one or more fans positioned to force ambient air through the second gas pathway of the heat exchanger and through the rear channel.

19. The electronic display of claim 18 wherein:

the heat exchanger is comprised of a plurality of layers of corrugated plastic.

20. The electronic display of claim 18 wherein:

the ambient air is substantially prohibited from mixing with the circulating gas.