Display case door with transparent LCD panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display case door for a product storage device, the display case door comprising:
- a transparent unit through which products within the product storage device are visible, the transparent unit comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a transparent LCD panel positioned between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the transparent LCD panel is configured to present visual media content;
a light guide positioned within the transparent unit between the transparent LCD panel and the rear panel, the light guide spaced apart from the LCD panel by a spacer disposed therebetween, and the light guide comprising a front surface facing toward the transparent LCD panel, a rear surface facing toward the rear panel, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; and
a lighting element positioned within the transparent unit between the transparent LCD panel and the rear panel and configured to emit light through the side surface of the light guide in a direction substantially parallel to the transparent LCD panel;
wherein the light guide is configured to redirect the light emitted by the lighting element through the front surface toward the transparent LCD panel and through the rear surface toward the products within the product storage device.
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Abstract
A display case door for a product storage device includes a transparent unit through which products within the product storage device are visible. The transparent unit includes a transparent LCD panel configured to present visual media content. The display case door further includes an electrical hinge pin rotatably coupling the display case door to the product storage device and one or more electrical conductors extending through the electrical hinge pin. The electrical conductors deliver the visual media content to the transparent LCD panel from a remote data source.
93 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A display case door for a product storage device, the display case door comprising:
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a transparent unit through which products within the product storage device are visible, the transparent unit comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a transparent LCD panel positioned between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the transparent LCD panel is configured to present visual media content; a light guide positioned within the transparent unit between the transparent LCD panel and the rear panel, the light guide spaced apart from the LCD panel by a spacer disposed therebetween, and the light guide comprising a front surface facing toward the transparent LCD panel, a rear surface facing toward the rear panel, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; and a lighting element positioned within the transparent unit between the transparent LCD panel and the rear panel and configured to emit light through the side surface of the light guide in a direction substantially parallel to the transparent LCD panel; wherein the light guide is configured to redirect the light emitted by the lighting element through the front surface toward the transparent LCD panel and through the rear surface toward the products within the product storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 28)
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10. A display system for a product storage device, the display system comprising:
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a display case door comprising a transparent unit that includes a transparent LCD panel configured to present visual media content and through which products within the product storage device are visible; a light guide positioned behind and spaced apart from the transparent LCD panel by a spacer disposed therebetween, the light guide comprising a front surface facing toward the transparent LCD panel, a rear surface facing toward the products within the product storage device, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; and a lighting element configured to emit light through the side surface of the light guide in a direction substantially parallel to the transparent LCD panel; wherein the light guide is configured to redirect the light emitted by the lighting element through the front surface toward the transparent LCD panel and through the rear surface toward the products within the product storage device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 29)
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18. A display case door assembly comprising:
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a transparent unit comprising a transparent LCD panel configured to present visual media content; a light guide positioned behind and spaced apart from the transparent LCD panel by a spacer disposed therebetween, the light guide comprising a front surface facing toward the transparent LCD panel, a rear surface facing away from the transparent LCD panel, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; and a lighting element configured to emit light through the side surface of the light guide in a direction substantially parallel to the transparent LCD panel; wherein the light guide is configured to redirect the light emitted by the lighting element through the front surface toward the transparent LCD panel and through the rear surface away from the transparent LCD panel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 30)
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21. A display case advertising system comprising:
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a display case door for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door comprising; an insulated panel assembly that includes at least a first panel and a second panel, the first and second panels defining a space between them, the space comprising a thermally insulating medium, wherein a seal seals the thermally insulating material within the space between the first and second panel; a switchable film applied to a surface of the first panel; a lighting element coupled to the insulated panel assembly and arranged to emit light towards the switchable film and into an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device; a sensor configured to detect a presence of customers proximate to the display case door; a display panel positioned on the insulated panel assembly and arranged to be visible from outside of a display case with the display case door closed, the display panel configured to present visual media content; and a controller mounted to the display case door, the controller configured to; drive the display panel to present visual media content, control the switchable film to transition between an opaque state and a transparent state in coordination with presentation of the visual media content, and control operation of the lighting element and the switchable film responsive to output from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification