LED Assembly for Transparent Liquid Crystal Display and Static Graphic

• US 20160103275A1
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Diaz, Marcos, Dunn, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,649,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0404 Cases or cabinets of the closed type A47F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a transparent LCD which is placed between a front glass and a rear glass. A light guide is preferably positioned behind the LCD and contains an edge. A plurality of LEDs are positioned adjacent to the edge and a cavity is positioned on the opposite side of the LEDs as the light guide. Generally, light which is exiting the LEDs is permitted to enter both the light guide as well as the cavity. A graphic may be placed in front of the cavity and could be bonded to the front glass.

Claims

1. A transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a transparent LCD placed between a front glass and a rear glass;

a light guide positioned behind the transparent LCD and having a top edge;

a top cavity which is positioned above the light guide and between the front glass and rear glass; and

a plurality of LEDs positioned along the top edge of the light guide;

wherein light which is exiting the LEDs is permitted to enter both (1) the light guide as well as (2) the top cavity.

2. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the light entering the top cavity is permitted to exit through the front glass.

3. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a mask placed on the front glass and adjacent to the LEDs.

4. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a reflective surface positioned within the top cavity.

5. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a top thermal plate which is bonded to the rear glass and in thermal communication with the LEDs.

6. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 5 wherein:

the LEDs are attached to a PCB which is attached to the top thermal plate.

7. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 6 wherein:

a graphic placed adjacent to the top cavity.

8. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the light guide is capable of thermal expansion/contraction in the X-Y direction (horizontal and vertical when observing the LCD), but is fixed in the Z direction (into/out of the assembly when observing the LCD).

9. A transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a transparent LCD placed between a front glass and a rear glass;

a light guide positioned behind the transparent LCD and having an edge;

a plurality of LEDs positioned along the edge of the light guide; and

a cavity which is positioned on the opposite side of the LEDs as compared to the light guide;

wherein light which is exiting the LEDs is permitted to enter both (1) the light guide as well as (2) the cavity.

10. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

a graphic bonded to the front glass and placed adjacent to the cavity.

11. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

a mask placed on the front glass and adjacent to the LEDs.

12. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

a reflective surface positioned within the cavity.

13. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

a thermal plate which is bonded to the rear glass and in conductive thermal communication with the LEDs.

14. The transparent LCD assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the LEDs are attached to a PCB which is attached to the thermal plate.

15. A transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a transparent LCD placed between a front glass and a rear glass;

a light guide positioned behind the transparent LCD and having an edge;

a plurality of LEDs positioned along the edge of the light guide; and

a cavity which is positioned on the opposite side of the LEDs as compared to the light guide;

a first bracket placed between the LEDs and the cavity; and

a plurality of apertures within the first bracket.

16. The transparent LCD of claim 15 wherein:

the apertures permit light from the LEDs to pass through the first bracket.

17. The transparent LCD of claim 16 further comprising:

a second bracket where the light guide is sandwiched between the first and second brackets.

18. The transparent LCD of claim 15 wherein:

the apertures permit light from the LEDs to enter the cavity.

19. The transparent LCD of claim 15 wherein:

the light from the LEDs is permitted to enter both the light guide as well as the cavity.

20. The transparent LCD of claim 15 further comprising:

a graphic bonded to the front glass and placed adjacent to the cavity.