AIR-COOLING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20070268667A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exceptional Innovation, Inc. (ST Holdings Topco LLC)
• Original Assignee: Exceptional Innovation, Inc. (ST Holdings Topco LLC)
• Inventors: Moorer, Seale, Eichensehr, Eric, Lehman, Joseph, Virgin, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,667,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20972 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A cooling system for an electrical device includes a receptacle unit having a main opening with an inner chamber, a cooling unit operably associated with the electrical device arranged in the chamber of the receptacle unit, intake and exhaust openings arranged between the electronic device and the receptacle unit, an intake path extending from the intake opening to the cooling unit via the chamber of the receptacle unit and an exhaust path extending from the cooling unit to the exhaust opening via the inner space of the receptacle unit.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an electrical device comprising:

a receptacle unit having a main opening with an inner chamber;

a cooling unit operably associated with the electrical device and arranged in the chamber of said receptacle unit;

intake and exhaust openings arranged between the electronic device and said receptacle unit;

an intake path extending from said intake opening to said cooling unit via the chamber of said receptacle unit; and

an exhaust path extending from said cooling unit to said exhaust opening via the inner space of said receptacle unit.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said cooling unit comprises a cooling fan and a housing covering said cooling fan.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein said housing comprises:

a plurality of intake slots connected to said intake path; and

at least one exhaust opening connected to said exhaust path.

4. The cooling system of claim 3, wherein said housing further comprises an exhaust guide disposed along said exhaust path.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein said exhaust guide is configured to separate said exhaust path from said intake path in the inner space of said receptacle unit.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, in combination with an electrical device.

7. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein said electrical device comprises a flat panel display device having a screen on a front side thereof.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein said electrical device further comprises a driving circuit arranged on a rear surface of said flat panel display device.

9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein said electrical device further comprises a frame receiving the flat panel display device and driving circuit.

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein said frame comprises a front frame having an opening exposing the screen of said flat panel display device.

11. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein said frame further comprises a rear frame engaged with said front frame to receive the flat panel display therebetween, said rear frame having first and second recessed portions arranged at an edge thereof.

12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein said rear frame further comprises fins arranged in at least one of the first and second recessed portions.

13. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein said first and second recessed portions are arranged at a bottom edge of said rear frame.

14. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein said rear frame comprises a rear compartment to protrude from a rear surface thereof and configured to cover at least said driving circuit.

15. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein said compartment is arranged on a center portion of the rear surface of said rear frame.

16. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein said cooling unit is mounted on said rear compartment.

17. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein said receptacle unit comprises:

a rear wall and side walls surrounding the chamber of said receptacle unit; and

a rim extending from the side walls and surrounding the main opening of said receptacle unit and configured to contact a mounting surface, and wherein said rim includes third and fourth recessed portions arranged corresponding to the said first and second recessed portions, respectively.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein said receptacle unit further comprises fins arranged in at least one of the third and fourth recessed portions.

19. The cooling system of claim 17, further comprising an engagement mechanism configured to detachably fix the electrical device to said receptacle unit.

20. The cooling system of claim 19, wherein said engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of keys formed at said rear frame and a plurality of keyhole slots formed at the said receptacle unit.

21. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle unit is configured to be mounted in a wall.

22. The cooling system of claim 21, wherein said receptacle unit further includes a fastening structure configured to contact the wall.

23. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said cooling unit is connected to said electronic device.

24. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said electrical device is detachably fixed to said receptacle unit.

25. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said intake and exhaust openings are formed by attachment of the electrical device and said receptacle unit.

26. A cooling system for an electronic device comprising:

means for cooling the electronic device;

means for receiving said electronic device and said cooling means in an enclosed spaced having limited airflow;

means for providing cooling air to said cooling means in the receiving means;

means for removing exhaust air from said cooling means; and

means for separating said providing means and said removing means.

27. The cooling system of claim 26, further comprises means for attaching said electronic device to said receiving means.

28. The cooling system of claim 26, wherein said providing means comprises means for directing the cooling air to said cooling means.

29. The cooling system of claim 26, wherein said removing means comprises means for directing the exhaust air away from the electronic device.

30. The cooling system of claim 26, in combination with an electronic device.

31. The cooling system of claim 26, wherein the enclosed space comprises a wall.

32. A method of cooling an electronic device arranged in an enclosed space having limited air flow, said electronic device having a cooling unit associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

in-taking cooling air from outside the electronic device to the cooling unit;

cooling the electronic device using the cooling air;

expelling exhaust air generated by heat of the electronic device from the electronic device; and

separating the exhaust air from the cooling air.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of in-taking the cooling air comprises the steps of:

receiving the cooling air via an intake opening of said electronic device; and

directing the cooling air to the cooling unit via an intake path extending between the intake opening and the cooling unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of cooling the electronic device comprises the steps of:

applying the cooling air from the intake path toward the electrical device using the cooling device; and

removing the exhaust air generated from the heat of the electronic device using the cooling device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of expelling the exhaust air comprises the step of directing the exhaust air removed from the electronic device to an exhaust opening of said electronic device via an exhaust path extending between the cooling unit and the exhaust path.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of separating the exhaust air from the cooling air comprises the step of separating the intake path and the exhaust path.