Air curtain for display

A system and method for providing an air curtain over the screen of an LCD display. Air intakes are located in the housing of the LCD display, and air is pulled into the cavity of the display by one or more fans located in the housing. Air flows through the cavity and exits through a series of air baffles located along the top of the LCD display screen. The air baffles direct the air along the surface of the LCD display, creating an air curtain that may cool the LCD display. The flow of air through the display cavity may also cool the internal components of the LCD display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application makes no priority claim.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for reducing the internal temperature of a display and, particularly, for reducing the temperature of the glass in the display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of circulating air through the cavity of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device and over the surface of the LCD in order to reduce the internal temperature of the device and the surface temperature of the LCD.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) to display an image they must be illuminated by a light source, commonly referred to as a “backlighting.” Backlighting can be provided by a variety of different sources, such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), incandescent light bulbs, an electroluminescent panel (ELP), cold cathode florescent lamps (CCFLs) or hot cathode florescent lamps (HCFLs). LEDs are a common choice for backlighting of LCDs because they generate a high amount of light. However, it is commonly known that LEDs also generate a considerable amount of heat. When used in LCD displays the amount of heat can be troublesome, attributing to malfunctioning of the LCD, and a shortened LCD lifetime. Furthermore, as the demand for bigger LCDs and better quality increases, the problem of heat generation increases as well.

The problem of heat generation in LCD displays is further exacerbated when an LCD display is used in high temperature setting. LCD displays used in outdoor settings are often exposed to sunlight and high outdoor temperatures that can cause malfunctioning of the LCD display due to excessive heat. In many parts of the United States summer temperatures reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. LCD displays in these types of environments can malfunction and have shorter lives due to such extreme heat. An example of an outdoor setting in which an LCD display may be exposed to high temperatures is at a car wash. For LCD displays located on or near parking lots, not only could the LCD displays be in direct sunlight, but may also be impacted by heat rising up from the pavement,

However, LCD display malfunctioning due to high heat isn't just an outdoor concern. High indoor temperatures often occurring in industrial settings may also attribute to the malfunctioning of LCD displays.

It is therefore an unmet advantage of the prior art to provide effective cooling for LCD displays. This and other unmet advantages are provided by the system and method described and shown in more detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for providing air circulation through the cavity of a display, such as a television display. In particular, the system and method provides an air curtain over the display surface which may reduce the temperature of the display surface. Air circulation through the cavity of the LCD device may also reduce the temperature of the internal components of a display device. The system and method of the present invention may be used on any type of display device, including LCD, plasma, or rear-projection displays. Based on the present description, it should be recognized that the system and method of the present invention may also be used to circulate air through and over the viewing screen of any type of display device, and that circulation may be performed to regulate the temperature of the display device as desired.

An exemplary embodiment of an LCD display10of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. As shown, an LCD display panel20having a typical rectangular shape may be contained within a housing30having a box-like shape that accommodates the components of the LCD display10. The LCD display panel20may be comprised of all layers necessary for an operational LCD display panel20, which may include the LCD layer, the front substrate layer, and the back substrate layer. However, in other embodiments different types of layers may be included.

As shown inFIG. 2, the portion of the housing30located on the front of the LCD display10and above the display panel20may extend out over the display panel20while the rest of the housing30on the front of the LCD display10remains relatively flush to the display panel20. As shown inFIG. 2, air baffles40may be located along the bottom surface of the extended section of housing30. The air baffles40may be located along the entire length of the top of the LCD display10.

The bottom of the housing30may contain multiple air intakes50located along its length. As shown inFIG. 2, the air intakes50may be of similar rectangular shape, and may be arranged in two series of four equally-spaced holes in the bottom surface of the housing30. However, in other embodiments the air intakes50may have different shapes, may vary in number, or may be in different arrangements along different surfaces of the housing30. For example, in at least one exemplary embodiment there may only be one long rectangular air intake50that extends along the length of the bottom of the housing30. In yet other embodiments of the present invention the air intake50may be located in positions other than the bottom of the housing30.

As shown inFIG. 3, where the front of the LCD display10has been omitted to show the internal components and the cavity60of the LCD display10, located along the interior of the bottom of the housing30may be a fan mount70holding multiple fans80. The fan mount70may be positioned adjacent to the air intake50and the fans80held by the fan mount70may be positioned such when operating they pull air from the outside environment into the cavity60of the LCD display10. As can be seen inFIG. 3, in some embodiments of the present invention there may be one fan80for each air intake50. However, in other embodiments there may be fewer fans80than air intakes50, or in other cases, such as where there is only one air intake50, there may be multiple fans80per air intake50. Similarly, while the embodiment shown inFIG. 6contains eight fans80, in other embodiments of the present invention there may be only one fan80, or any number of multiple fans80. Also, while the fan mount70shown inFIG. 1runs along the length of the bottom of the housing30, depending on how many fans80are used and how long and wide the bottom of the housing30is, the configuration of the fan mount70may vary accordingly.

Each fan80may receive power from a power source90through power lines100extending from the fans80to the power source90contained within the housing30. The power source90may be connected to the main power source for the LCD display10. In other embodiments of the present invention each fan80derives power directly from the main power source for the LCD display10.

FIG. 4Ashows the circulation of air through an exemplary embodiment of a LCD display10of the present invention that may occur when the fans80are operated. As shown, the fans80may pull air from the environment surrounding the housing30through the air intakes50. This flow of air is shown by air flow arrow110. The air coming into the housing30through the air intakes50may flow from the bottom of the cavity60of the LCD display10to the top of the cavity60where it then enters the air baffles40. This flow is illustrated by air flow arrows120. The air baffles40may contain an array of air passages directed along the plane of the LCD display panel20. As the air flows from the cavity60through the air baffles40and out into the environment surrounding the housing30, the air baffles40may direct the air across the entire surface of the LCD display panel20. This flow of air across the LCD display panel20is shown by flow arrows130. In some embodiments of the present invention the air flow through the cavity60as well as over the surface of the LCD display panel20will be an almost laminar flow.

As air is circulated through the cavity60of the LCD display10and over the LCD display panel20, it may cool both the cavity60and the LCD display panel20through convection.

FIGS. 5aand5bshows different views of an exemplary embodiment of an LCD display10of the present invention.FIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view of this embodiment taken along line6-6inFIG. 5a. As shown in this embodiment, a portion of the housing30may extend out over and around the LCD display panel20in order to shield the LCD display panel20and prevent glare, fade-out caused by sunlight, or otherwise make it easier for viewers to see the LCD display panel20. As shown inFIG. 5b, in this embodiment there are two air intakes50, each providing air intake for four fans80.FIG. 6shows the relative locations and positions of an air intake50, fan80, fan mount70, cavity60, air baffles40, and LCD display panel20. As shown inFIG. 5b, there may be two large air intakes50that provide air flow to four fans80each.

As shown inFIG. 5b, the air intakes40may be covered with a screen140in order to prevent dust and debris from entering the LCD cavity60. In other embodiments of the present invention the air intakes40may have another type of covering that acts to prevent the intake of dust and debris into the cavity60.

As shown inFIG. 6, in some embodiments of the present invention there may be an air director150positioned within the housing30to direct the air flowing through the cavity60in the direction of the air baffles40. The air director150may be angled across the top rear corner of the cavity60such that when air flowing through the cavity60hits the air director150it is directed in the direction of the air baffles40. The air director150may be made from metal, plastic, or any other material with a non-perforated surface.

While inFIG. 6the air intakes50and fans80are located on the bottom of the LCD display panel20and the air baffles40are located at the top, in other embodiments of the present invention the air intakes50and fans80may be at the top of the LCD display panel20and the air baffles40may be located at the bottom, causing air to circulate through the cavity60and over the LCD display panel20in a direction opposition to that shown inFIG. 4. In other embodiments of the present invention the air intakes50, fans80, and air baffles40may be located in any other relative locations that allow for air to be circulated within the cavity60and over the LCD display panel20.

As shown inFIGS. 4B-4C, in some embodiments of the present invention fans80may not only be located near the air intakes50, but there may also be additional fans80located within the cavity60in order to promote the circulation of air through the cavity60. For example, in large LCD displays additional fans80may be located within the mid- to upper part of the cavity60to help pull air up through the cavity60and push it out through the air baffles40. This addition of fans80may increase the volume of air that flows through the cavity60, thereby increasing the cooling effect. The volume of air circulating through the cavity60may also be controlled by the size and power of the fans80.

In some embodiments the fans80will be powered at all times, providing a constant flow of air through the cavity60and over the LCD display panel20regardless of the temperature of the surrounding environment. However, in other embodiments of the present invention power to the fans80will be dictated by a thermal sensor associated with the power source90. In these embodiments the fans80will only receive power when the thermal sensor recognizes that either the environmental temperature, internal temperature, or screen temperature is above a pre-determined limit. In these embodiments the fans80will only be turned on when one or more of these temperatures are above this pre-determined limit.

In some embodiments of the present invention the air curtain system described herein may be the only means utilized for regulating the temperature of an LCD display10. However, in other embodiments of the present invention the air curtain system may be used in conjunction with other systems for keeping the LCD display10cool. For example, the air curtain system of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a water cooling system.

Other embodiments of the present invention may include means within the cavity60for refrigerating the air. In these embodiments the air that is passed over the LCD display panels20by the air baffles40may be cooler than that of the surrounding environment.

The air curtain system and method of the present invention may be used on LCD displays10of any size, and in any setting where it is desirable to regulate the temperature of an LCD display10. The exemplary embodiment shown inFIGS. 5a,5b, and6may also be used at gas stations, automatic car washes, or in other outdoor or indoor settings where a LCD display will be subject to warm temperatures. For all embodiments, the size of the air intakes50, fans80and air baffles40may be sized accordingly to provide air circulation through any sized LCD display10.

Some embodiments of the present invention may involve displays other than LCD displays. An example would be a plasma display or rear-projection television. An exemplary embodiment may be used with any type of display where it is desirable to regulate the temperature both of the screen and inside the device.

Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention and still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.