Translucent digital display system

• US 9,514,661 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STRATACACHE Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: STRATACACHE Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Riegel, Christopher K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moon, Seokyun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Douglas M
• Application Number:
  US13/411,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 345/30, 345/32, 345/55, 359/894
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0093 Means for protecting the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/0033 on refrigerated containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/065 Advertising in food vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A digital display system includes a transparent outer protective panel, a transparent inner protective panel, and a translucent digital video display located between the outer and inner protective panels. An integrated media player is operably connected to the translucent digital video display so that full-motion videos displayed on the translucent digital video display are viewed through the outer protective panel and items can be viewed through the translucent digital video display. The digital display system can be incorporated into any environment where a product is located behind a glass enclosure such as freezers, coolers, security glass, jewelry cases, liquor cases, cosmetic cases, and the like. In retail environments, the digital display systems can also be incorporated into entry doors, windows, drive-thru windows, teller windows, and any other location where there is traditionally glass and you want to focus consumer attention obstructing the customer'"'"'s line of site.

Claims

1. A hinged door with digital system for an enclosure having a refrigeration system to keep product displayed in the enclosure at a desired temperature, said hinged door comprising, in combination:

a transparent outer protective panel and a transparent inner protective panel, the inner and outer protective panels being spaced apart in parallel relationship with each other and substantially coextensive in length and width;

a frame encircling peripheries of the outer and inner protective panels and enclosing outer edges of the outer and inner protective panels to form a sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

hinges secured to the frame;

wherein the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels is filled with an inert gas;

a translucent digital video display located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

a light source providing light located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

a light guide located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels which directs light from the light source through the inner protective panel and also through the translucent digital video display and out through the outer protective panel;

an integrated media player including memory and a wireless communication system and configured to receive video media files and to play video media files for display on the digital video display; and

wherein the integrated media player is located between the inner and outer protective panels and is operably connected to the translucent digital video display so that full-motion videos displayed on the translucent digital video display are viewed through the translucent digital video display; and

wherein the outer and inner protective panels, the frame, the digital video display, the light source, the light guide, and the integrated media player are configured to move as a self-contained package about the hinges.

2. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the transparent outer protective panel and the transparent inner protective panel each comprise glass.

3. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the translucent digital video display comprises an LCD display.

4. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the translucent digital video display displays high definition, full-color, full-motion videos.

5. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the self-contained package has only one cable connection and the cable connection includes a power cable to provide power to the integrated media player.

6. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 5, wherein the power cable extends through one of the hinges.

7. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the frame and the outer and inner protective panel form a cooler door.

8. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the frame and the outer and inner protective panels form a freezer door.

21. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein the light guide includes embedded micro-particles that reflect the light from the light source out thorough the inner protective panel and through the digital video display and out through the outer protective panel.

22. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the integrated media player including the memory and the wireless communication system is removable from within the frame and the outer and inner protective panels through a sealed access door.

9. A hinged door with digital display system for an enclosure having a refrigeration system to keep product displayed in the enclosure at a desired temperature, said hinged door comprising, in combination:

a transparent outer protective panel and a transparent inner protective panel, the inner and outer protective panels being spaced apart in parallel relationship with each other and substantially coextensive in length and width;

a frame encircling peripheries of the outer and inner protective panels and enclosing outer edges of the outer and inner protective panels to form a sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

hinges secured to the frame;

wherein the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels is filled with an inert gas;

a translucent digital video display located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

a light guide including a glass panel secured to the translucent video display and located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

wherein the glass panel includes micro-particles therein for reflecting light;

a light source located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels adjacent an edge of the glass pane to provide light within the glass panel that strikes the micro-particles and is reflected through the inner protective panel and also though the translucent digital video display and out through the outer protective panel;

an integrated media player including memory and a wireless communication system and configured to receive video media files for viewing on the digital video display; and

wherein the integrated media player is located between the inner and outer protective panels and is operably connected to the translucent digital video display so that full-motion videos displayed on the translucent digital video display are viewed through the outer protective panel and items located behind the inner protective panel can be viewed through the translucent digital video display; and

wherein the outer and inner protective panels, the frame, the digital video display, the light source, and the integrated media player are configured to move as a self-contained package about the hinges.

10. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the transparent outer protective panel and the transparent inner protective panel each comprise glass.

11. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the translucent digital video display comprises an LCD display.

12. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the translucent digital video display displays high definition, full-color, full-motion videos.

13. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the self-contained package has only one cable connection and the cable connection includes a power cable to provide power to the integrated media player.

14. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 13, wherein the power cable extends through one of the hinges.

15. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the frame and the outer and inner protective panels form a cooler door.

17. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED.

18. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein glass panel is secured to the digital video display with adhesive.

19. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, the light guide provides visibly uniform illumination through the outer protective panel at the digital video display.

23. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, where in a portion of the integrated media player including the memory and the wireless communication system is removable from within the frame and the outer and inner protective panels through a sealed access door.

24. The hinged door with digital display system according to claim 9, wherein a portion of the integrated media player including the memory and the wireless communication system is removable from within the frame and the outer and inner protective panels through a sealed access door.

16. The hinged door with digital display system according to clam 9, wherein the frame and the outer and inner protective panels form a freezer door.

20. A hinged door with digital display system for an enclosure having a refrigeration system to keep product displayed in the enclosure at a desired temperature, said hinged door comprising, in combination:

a transparent outer protective panel and a transparent inner protective panel, the inner and outer protective panels being spaced apart in parallel relationship with each other and substantially coextensive in length and width;

a frame encircling peripheries of the outer and inner protective panels and enclosing outer edges of the outer and inner protective panels to form a sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

hinges secured to the frame;

wherein the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels is filled with an inert gas;

a translucent LCD video display located within the frame between the outer and inner protective panels;

a light guide including a glass panel adhered to the translucent LCD video display and located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels;

wherein the glass panel includes micro-particles therein for reflecting light;

at least one LED located within the sealed space between the outer and inner protective panels adjacent the glass panel to provide light within the glass panel that strikes the micro-particles and is reflected through the inner protective panel and also through the translucent digital video display and out through the outer protective panel to provide visibly uniform illumination through the inner protective panel and the outer protective panel at the LCD video display;

an integrated media player including memory and a wireless communication system and configured to receive video media files and to play video media files for viewing on the digital video display;

wherein the integrated media player is located between the inner and outer protective panels and is operably connected to the translucent LCD video display so that high definition, color, full-motion videos displayed on the translucent LCD video display are viewed through the outer protective panel and items located behind the inner protective panel can be viewed through the translucent LCD video display; and

wherein the outer and inner protective panels, the frame, the LCD video display, the light guide, the LED, and the integrated media player are configured to move as a self-contained package about the hinges.