Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.

Don Le

William R Dunn

Ware Bedell

David Williams

Disclosed herein is an electronic display assembly having a thermally conductive housing and an image assembly. The image assembly is positioned within the thermally conductive housing and behind a transparent plate assembly. An inlet opening and outlet opening are formed by gaps located between opposing edges of the image assembly and the housing. A space between the image assembly and the plate assembly forms a channel. A thermally conductive plate extends from near the image assembly within each of the inlet opening and outlet opening to contact the housing. Heat from the image assembly is conductively transferred to the housing by the thermally conductive plates. A fan may be positioned to circulate cooling air through the channel via the inlet and outlet openings and apertures in the thermally conductive plates.

Electronic display assembly with combined conductive and convective cooling

Disclosed herein is an electronic display assembly including a backlight that is positioned to illuminate a liquid crystal display, and a novel cooling mechanism in the form of a thermal plate that is located and configured to transfer heat from the backlight to a thermally conductive housing of the electronic display assembly. The thermal plate is preferably placed in conductive thermal communication with the backlight and with the thermally conductive housing for this purpose. One or more air flow apertures may pass through the thermal plate. A convective cooling loop may also be provided, which cooling loop may include a fan that is located to move cooling air over the thermal plate and/or though one or more apertures in the thermal plate. Both a top and bottom thermal plate may be employed in some exemplary embodiments.

Electronic display assembly having thermal cooling plate and optional convective air cooling loop

An in-field replaceable glass assembly for an electronic display placed within a housing is disclosed. The housing preferably contains a hanger at the top of the housing, where the glass assembly contains a frame surrounding a pane of glass and having a top and bottom. A tab is preferably placed at the top of the frame and adapted to hold the glass assembly in place when slipped over the hanger on the housing. The glass assembly also contains a means for attaching the bottom of the frame to the housing. In some embodiments this means is a threaded post which extends from the frame and passing through a portion of the housing. A nut may be tightened against the post. In other embodiments a threaded fastener may pass through the housing and thread into a female threaded hole within the frame.

Field serviceable electronic display

Disclosed is a thermal plate assembly and method for cooling an electronic display. The thermal plate may contain a first portion which is in thermal communication with the electronic display. A second portion of the thermal plate may be in thermal communication with the housing. Apertures may be placed within the plate and a fan may be positioned to draw air through the apertures. A gap may be located between the electronic display and a transparent plate assembly, where the fan may be further positioned to force air through the gap as well.

Thermal plate with optional cooling loop in electronic display

An electronic display having one or more thermal plates in thermal communication with an image assembly and a thermally-conductive housing (and optional door frame). In some embodiments, the thermal plate is in thermal communication with the door frame which is in thermal communication with the housing. A channel may be defined between a transparent plate assembly and the image assembly where a fan may force cooling air through the channel. The cooling air may also pass through apertures in the thermal plate(s). An exemplary image assembly may provide an LED edge-lit LCD or an OLED display. In some embodiments, two displays may be provided in a back-to-back orientation within a single housing. The display may dissipate heat without the need to ingest ambient air.

An electronic display which can be serviced without having to remove the display from its mounted position. A front housing and a rear housing are hingedly attached so that the front housing can rotate and allow access to the interior of the display. An axial force mechanism can be used to aid in rotating the front housing to an open position. A locking collar, support member, or axial locking member may be used to ensure that the front housing remains open. A removable front glass assembly or removable glass panel may be used with an exemplary embodiment. The front glass assembly or glass panel can be easily replaced if it becomes damaged by minimally-trained personnel. Gutters may be used between the front and rear housing as well as the front housing and front glass assembly to ensure an adequate seal against contaminates.

Growing community of inventors

Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Don Le