Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-287021 filed on Dec. 24, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a display apparatus which displays image, and outdoor displaying system equipping said apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, large-sized display apparatuses called “digital signage” which are deployed outdoors, which display information such as advertising information are emerging. 
         [0006]    For example, when it is installed outdoors, the temperature inside the display may become high in the daytime of midsummer etc, and this may hamper the performance of the liquid crystal panel. Thus, one idea is to use fan and generate the air-flow inside the cabinet. However, raindrop or dust may go inside the cabinet from the air inlet or the outlet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the display apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a display portion; an inlet; an outlet; a fan portion which generates the air flow from the inlet to the outlet along the display portion, and a exhaust duct having an opening in the bottom side and leading the air emitted from the outlet to the opening. According to an another aspect of the display apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a display portion; an inlet; an outlet; a fan portion which generates the air flow from the inlet to the outlet along the display portion, and a inhale duct having an opening in the bottom side and leading the air entered from the opening to the inlet. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the outdoor display system  9 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the outdoor display system  9 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the outdoor display system  9 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the display  4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a horizontal sectional view of the display  4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of the display  4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the battery unit  7 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of the battery unit  7 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the outdoor display system  90 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are the outline views of the outdoor display system  9  of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is its front perspective view,  FIG. 2  is its side view, and  FIG. 3  is its rear perspective view. 
         [0018]    As shown in these figures, the outdoor display system  9  has a case  91  which stores a display  4 , a battery unit  7 . 
         [0019]    Under the case  91 , leg portions  92  for installing the system  9  on the ground are formed. In the lower surface  91   c  of the case  91 , the openings  91   a  and  91   b  are formed. By these openings, the inside and the outside are the communicated so that the air can flow their between. 
         [0020]    The display  4  displays information or image. The display has an antenna which receives a wireless signal (WiMAX and IEEE802.11b/g etc.) from an external server (ASP server, personal computer, etc.), or a signal from a broadcasting station. The display further demodulates the signal received by the antenna, extracts the MPEG2-TS format signal and separates the extracted signal into the image signal and the audio signal. Then decoding is performed before outputting signals from the LCD panel  44  or a speaker. 
         [0021]    Moreover, the MPEG 2-TS format signal may be stored temporality in the internal memory (or HDD drive inside the display  4 ), and the content of the signal may be displayed on the LCD panel  44  triggered by operation of a user or a predetermined time schedule. 
         [0022]    In the front side or the rear side of the front glass  13  which is in front of the LCD panel  44 , a touch panel  46  comprising an electric capacity type touch sensor sheet is equipped. 
         [0023]    On the respective side of the display  4 , an intake duct  11  and an exhaust duct  12  are formed. Under the duct  12 , an opening  91   a  is formed. Under the duct  11 , an opening  91   b  is formed. 
         [0024]    Above the case  91 , a solar cell  95  is installed. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a supporting portion  93  is arranged on the upper surface of the case  91 . The portion  93  supports a stand  94 . On the stand  94 , solar cell  1  which receives sunlight is installed. The angle of the stand  94  is set so that it conforms with the incidence angle of the sunlight. 
         [0025]    Inside the battery unit  7 , a battery  2 , a controller  3 , and an inverter  8  are stored in the case (see  FIG. 7 ). The battery  2  is, for example, a lithium ion battery. The controller  3  controls so that the electric power generated by the solar cell  95  is supplied to the display  4  or the battery  2 . Basically, the controller  3  supplies the most of the power from the solar cell  95  to the display  4 , and supplies the remainder to the battery  2 . However, when the solar cell  95  does not generate power (such as nighttime or cloudy days), the controller  3  controls so that the power is supplied to the display  4  from the battery  2 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a casing of the display  4  comprises a front cabinet  4   a  and a back cabinet  4   b.  Inside these cabinets, a LCD panel and an electric circuit and other components are stored. On the right side of the cabinet, an intake duct  11  is attached. On the left side of the cabinet, the exhaust duct  12  is attached. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a horizontal sectional view of the display  4 . Referring to this figure, the LCD panel  44  is formed inside the back cabinet  4   b.  On the rear side of the panel  44 , a back light  45  is formed. To the front cabinet  4   a,  a transparent front glass  13  is inserted so as to face the panel  44 . On the front surface of the glass  13 , a touch panel  46  is attached. The touch panel  46  may be attached on the rear side of the glass  13  (i.e. on the side facing the panel  44 ). 
         [0028]    In the daytime of midsummer, the temperature inside the display may become high when it is installed outdoors, and this may hamper the performance of the display apparatus. In order to prevent the malfunction of touch panel  46  derived by the temperature condition, it is necessary to control the temperature of the panel  46 . 
         [0029]    Thereby, the display  4  has fan on its both side and cools the LCD panel  44  and the touch panel  46  by making an air-flow in the front side of the LCD panel  44 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5  again, between the LCD panel  44  and the front glass  13 , a space  81  is set. Thereby, the ventilation from the inlet  14  to the outlet  14  is achieved. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of the display  4 . As shown in this figure, on the right-hand side of the display  4 , three inlets  14  are located in a vertical direction. On the left-hand side of the display  4 , three outlets  15  are located in a vertical direction as well. 
         [0032]    In each of the inlets  14 , intake fans  49   a  are arranged. In each of the outlet  15 , exhaust fans  49   b  are arranged. In the inlet  14  and the outlet  15 , a filter for preventing dust intruding into space  81  may be arranged. 
         [0033]    In the outside of the inlet  14 , the intake duct  11  is attached. The duct  11  is arranged vertically along the side-face of the back cabinet  4   b  so as to cover these three inlets  14 . 
         [0034]    On the undersurface of the intake duct  11 , the inlet  11   a  is arranged. Generally, the rain falls downward, but the opening of the duct  11  (inlet  11   a ) is arranged downward. Thereby, it can prevent raindrops intruding into the duct  11 . 
         [0035]    In the outside of the outlet  15 , the exhaust duct  12  is attached. The duct  12  is arranged vertically along the side-face of the back cabinet  4   b  so as to cover these three outlets  15 . 
         [0036]    On the undersurface of the exhaust duct  12 , the outlet  12   a  is arranged. Since the opening of the duct  12  (outlet  12   a ) is arranged downward, it can prevent raindrops intruding into the duct  12 . 
         [0037]    These fans are driven when the illumination detected by the illumination sensor  50   b  (see  FIG. 4 ) arranged in front side of the display  4  (i.e. in four corners of the LCD panel  44 ) exceeds a predetermined value. When the detected illumination is high, it means that strong sunlight is irradiating the panel  44 , and thus the temperature of the panel  44  may rise. Therefore, in such case, the fan is driven to prevent the panel  44  from heated. 
         [0038]    Further, the temperature sensor may be arranged on the display  4  as well. The fans may be driven when the temperature detected by this sensor exceeds a predetermined value. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the battery unit  7 . In the unit  7 , the battery  2 , the controller  3 , and the inverter  8  are stored in a case. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of the unit  7 . Referring to the figure, in the right side portion of the unit  7 , three inlets  71  are set vertically. In the left side portion of the unit  7 , three outlets  72  are set vertically. 
         [0041]    In each of the inlets  71 , the intake fan  5   a  is set. In each of the outlets  72 , the exhaust fan  5   b  is set. When these fans are driven, air-flow between the inlet  71  and outlet  72  is generated. 
         [0042]    In this embodiment, the inverter  8 , in which the temperature tends to become high, is arranged in the inlet  71  side so that the inverter  8  is cooled with high priority. The battery unit  7  also has an intake duct  73  and an exhaust duct  74 . 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0043]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the outdoor display system  90  of the present embodiment. It differs from the system  9  that the intake duct  110  and the exhaust duct  120  are further stretching down from the side surface of the display  4 . This means that the lower portion of the ducts  110  and  120  are arranged also in the side of the battery unit  7 , the inlet or the outlet of these ducts are arranged above the opening  91   a  or  91   b . Thereby, inside of the display  4  can be performed much efficiently.

Technology Category: g