Sealed transparent liquid crystal display assembly

• US 9,983,427 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoan C
• Application Number:
  US15/394,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20170108735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• 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: A47F 7/0071 for perishable goods
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/022 for watches or for bracelets therefor A47F7/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• 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 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13332 Front frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13398 Spacer materials; Spacer properties

Abstract

A sealed, transparent electronic display assembly is disclosed. The assembly preferably contains a front and a rear transparent panel. The assembly also preferably has a spacer element that is positioned around a perimeter of, and sandwiched between, the front and rear transparent panels, thereby providing a gaseous seal. The transparent electronic display panel is positioned between the front and rear transparent panels. In an exemplary embodiment, a two way light guide would be used within the assembly.

Claims

1. A display assembly comprising:

a front transparent panel;

a rear transparent panel;

a spacer element positioned between the front and rear transparent panels configured to provide a gaseous seal between the front transparent panel and the spacer element as well as between the rear transparent panel and the spacer element;

a transparent electronic display panel positioned between and spaced apart from the front and rear transparent panels;

a two way light guide positioned between the rear transparent panel and the transparent electronic display panel,

a front bracket configured to prevent the two way light guide from moving towards the transparent electronic display panel; and

a rear bracket configured to prevent the two way light guide from moving towards the rear transparent panel,

wherein the transparent electronic display panel is sealed within the assembly so that exterior air cannot contact the transparent electronic display panel.

2. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said two way light guide is held between the front bracket and the rear bracket.

3. The display assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the two way light guide is restricted from movement towards or away from an intended viewer.

4. The display assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the transparent electronic display panel is attached to a front surface of the front bracket.

5. The display assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the front and rear brackets are configured to permit vertical or horizontal thermal expansion of the two way light guide, but prevent the two way light guide from moving towards or away from the transparent electronic display panel.

6. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

7. A display assembly comprising:

a front transparent sheet;

a rear transparent sheet;

a transparent electronic display panel positioned between and spaced apart from the front transparent sheet and the rear transparent sheet;

a two way light guide positioned between the transparent electronic display panel and the rear transparent sheet;

a spacer element which surrounds the transparent electronic display panel and is sandwiched in between, and bonded to, the front and rear transparent sheets,

a front bracket configured to prevent the two way light guide from moving towards the transparent electronic display panel; and

a rear bracket configured to prevent the two way light guide from moving towards the rear transparent panel,

wherein said spacer element creates a gaseous seal between the front transparent sheet and the spacer element as well as between the rear transparent sheet and the spacer element.

8. The display assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

9. The display assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the gaseous seal does not allow gas from outside the display assembly to contact the transparent electronic display panel.

10. The display assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the gaseous seal does not allow gas from inside the display assembly to escape.

11. A display assembly comprising:

a front glass panel;

a rear glass panel;

a spacer element positioned around a perimeter of the front and rear glass panels and sandwiched in between the front and rear glass panels to define a cavity, spaced apart from the front and rear transparent panels;

a transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) panel positioned within the cavity; and

a two way light guide positioned between the rear glass panel and the transparent LCD panel; and

an inert gas which substantially fills the cavity;

a first and second brackets configured to restrain the light guide from moving towards or away from an intended viewer while also permitting thermal expansion of the light guide;

wherein the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

12. The display assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of illumination sources arranged along an edge of the light guide.