ELECTRONIC DISPLAY ASSEMBLY WITH A CHANNEL FOR AMBIENT AIR IN AN ACCESS PANEL
An assembly for an electronic display includes a digital side assembly and an access panel mounted to a frame. The digital side assembly includes a housing, a display layer located behind a cover panel, a front channel between the display layer and the cover panel, and a side assembly open loop channel behind the display layer. A cooling channel is located between the frame and the rear surfaces of the access panel and the digital side assembly. An open loop pathway for ambient air includes the side assembly open loop channel and an access panel open loop channel. A closed loop pathway for circulating gas includes the cooling channel and the front channel.
This application makes no priority claim.
TECHNICAL FIELDExemplary embodiments relate generally to an electronic display assembly with a channel for ambient air in an access panel.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONElectronic displays are increasingly being utilized in digital out of home (“DOOH”) applications. Such DOOH applications may include placement in indoor, semi-outdoor, and outdoor locations. These electronic displays are exposed to a number of potentially harmful environmental conditions including weather, solar loading, air contaminants, vandalism, wildlife, and the like. These electronic displays are sometimes placed in ruggedized enclosures to help protect the electronic displays and related components from such harmful environmental conditions. However, the electronic displays and related components typically generate heat which needs to be removed, along with heat experienced from the environmental conditions such as ambient temperatures, solar loading, and the like. Sometimes, the assembly will be designed to accept an open loop of ambient air which thermally interacts with a closed loop of circulating gas to remove the heat.
Access to the electronic display and related components is important in order to service the assemblies, make changes, and the like. In some installation locations, a rear surface of the assembly may receive particularly high levels of solar loading. This may be especially noticeable in applications where the assembly is tilted downward.
What is needed is an electronic display assembly with a channel for ambient air in an access panel. An electronic display assembly with a channel for ambient air in an access panel is provided.
An assembly for an electronic display may comprise a frame, a digital side assembly, and an access panel. A variety of peripheral devices, such as but not limited to, cameras, sensors, microphones, and the like may be located on the frame or throughout the assembly. The access panel may comprise an access panel open loop channel which is configured to receive ambient air. The digital side assembly may include one or more electronic displays, a digital side assembly open loop channel for ambient air, and a front channel for circulating gas located between a cover panel and a display layer. The space between the frame, the digital side assembly, and the access panel may define a cooling channel for the circulating gas. One or more electronic components for operating the electronic display, the peripheral devices, or other related equipment of the assembly may be located in the cooling channel. The front channel and the cooling channel may form a closed loop for the circulating gas. A heat exchanger may be located in the cooling channel which may form part of an open loop and the cooling loop.
The open loop may include the heat exchanger, the digital side assembly open loop, and the access panel open loop. The ambient air may be ingested by way of intakes located on the access panel. The ingested ambient air may be initially or subsequently separated into a number of flows. In exemplary embodiments, a different flow of ambient air may flow through each of the heat exchanger, the digital side assembly open loop, and the access panel open loop, and one or more fans may be dedicated to forcing air through one or more of these flow paths. One or more septa may be placed in the access panel for structural rigidity and to separate the second flow of ambient air. In other exemplary embodiments the access panel may be cooled by natural convection. The various ambient air flows may be separately exhausted from the assembly or may be merged before being exhausted.
The assembly may be configured for mounting to an external structure, such as but not limited to, a pole. The assembly may be mounted at a downward angle. The access panel may be mounted to the frame in a hinged manner. The digital side assembly may be mounted to the frame in a hinged manner.
Further features and advantages of the systems and methods disclosed herein, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.
In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, specific details such as detailed configuration and components are merely provided to assist the overall understanding of these embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
An access panel 16 may be mounted to an opposing side of said frame 12 as compared to the digital side assembly 14. The access panel 16 may be mounted to said frame 12 in a hinged manner, such as but not limited to, along the upper edge of the frame 12 and the access panel 16, though such is not required. In exemplary embodiments, a lower portion 18 of the frame 12 may extend below the digital side assembly 14 and the access panel 16, though such is not required.
The access panel 16 may be comprised of sheet metal, black glass, or the like. In exemplary embodiments, the access panel 16 may be substantially comprised of a substantially opaque material. The access panel 16 may be a blank sheet. The access panel 16 may be moveably mounted to said frame 12 to permit access to various components of the assembly 10, including but not limited, to the frame 12, the digital side assembly 14, and any components located within the frame 12 or the digital side assembly 14.
A cooling channel 42 may be located between the access panel 16 and the digital side assembly 14 and may be located within the frame 12. Various electronic components 60 for operating the electronic display 15 as well as peripheral devices and other components of the assembly 10, such as but not limited to, the camera 20, the speaker 19, the sensor 21, and the like may be located within the cooling channel 42. Such electronic components 60 may be mounted to the rear surface of the digital side assembly 14, the rear surface of the access panel 16, or the interior surfaces of the frame 12. The cooling channel 42 may be configured to receive circulating gas 48.
A heat exchanger 46 may be located within the cooling channel 42. The heat exchanger 46 may be configured to receive the ambient air 32 as well as the circulating gas 48. In exemplary embodiments, the heat exchanger 46 may comprise a number of closed loop layers 46B for the circulating gas 48 and a number of open loop layers 46A for the ambient air 32. The closed loop layers 46B may be alternated with the open loop layers 46A, though such is not required. The heat exchanger 46 may be a cross-flow, counter-flow, parallel flow, or other type of heat exchanger. The open loop layers 46A may be configured to receive a third flow 32C of the ambient air 32.
An electronic display layer 21 may be located behind the cover panel 22. In exemplary embodiments, the display layer 21 is located behind, spaced apart from, and extends substantially parallel with the cover panel 22. The electronic display layer 21 may be, without limitation, comprised of liquid crystals. It is contemplated, however, that any type of electronic display 15 may be utilized within the digital side assembly 14 such as, but not limited to, an LCD, OLED, cathode ray tube, LED, or the like. Any number of films or additional layers are contemplated such as, but not limited to, enhancement films, diffusers, optical adhesives, polarizers, some combination thereof, or the like.
A front channel 50 may be located between the cover panel 22 and the electronic display layer 21. The front channel 50 may be configured to receive the circulating gas 48. The front channel 50 and the cooling channel 42 may form a closed loop. One or more closed loop fans 44 may be placed along the closed loop to force the circulating gas 48 through the closed loop. In exemplary embodiments the closed loop fans 44 may be located along an upper edge of the heat exchanger 46, though any location, or multiple locations, are contemplated. Additionally, while the circulating gas 48 is illustrating as flowing counterclockwise, it is contemplated that the circulating gas 48 may flow clockwise. Furthermore, while the circulating gas 48 is illustrated as flowing vertically through the cooling channel 42 and the front channel 50, it is contemplated that the circulating gas 48 may flow horizontally.
A rear digital side assembly layer 56 may be located behind the electronic display layer 21. In exemplary embodiments, the rear digital side assembly layer 56 is located behind, spaced apart from, and extends substantially parallel with the display layer 21. The rear digital side assembly layer 56 may comprise a number of illumination devices, such as but not limited to LEDs, mounted to a printed circuit board to form a backlight for the electronic display layer 21, though such is not required. The electronic display 15 may be directly backlit, edge lit, self-phosphorescing (e.g., OLED), or the like.
An interior digital side assembly panel 59 may be located behind the rear digital side assembly layer 56. In exemplary embodiments, the interior digital side assembly panel 59 is located behind, spaced apart from, and extends substantially parallel with the rear digital side assembly layer 56. A side assembly open loop channel 54 may be located between the rear digital side assembly layer 56 and the interior digital side assembly panel 59. The side assembly open loop channel 54 may be configured to receive a second flow 32B of the ambient air 32. A corrugated layer 58 may be provided in the side assembly open loop channel 54, though such is not required. The corrugated layer 58 may be provided in a honeycomb pattern, zig-zag pattern, as fins, as ribs, some combination thereof, or the like. In exemplary embodiments, the side assembly open loop channel 54 may be placed directly adjacent to the backlight 56. In this way, the second flow 32B of the ambient air 32 may remove heat generated by the backlight 56. The use of the corrugated layer 58 may improve the distribution of the second flow 32B of the ambient air 32 such that cooling is improved.
In exemplary embodiments, the cooling channel 42 may be located between the interior digital side assembly panel 59 and the access panel interior panel 25. A backlight cavity 53 may be located between the rear digital side assembly layer 56 and the electronic display layer 21. In exemplary embodiments, the backlight cavity 53 is partially or completely sealed. In other exemplary embodiments, a small flow of the circulating gas 48 may be directed to flow through the backlight cavity 53.
The cover panel 22 may be comprised of multiple layers. For example, without limitation, the cover panel 22 may be comprised of a first 22A and a second 22B layer. The first and second layers 22A and 22B may be secured to one another by way of an optically clear adhesive. The cover panel 22 may be comprised or glass, a polymer, or the like. Any transparent or translucent material is contemplated.
The digital side assembly 14 may comprise a housing 13 for various components of the digital side assembly 14 such as, but not limited to, the cover panel 22, the electronic display layer 21, the rear digital side assembly layer 56, the side assembly open loop channel 54, and the interior digital side assembly panel 59, some combination thereof, or the like.
A gasket 64 may be located around a portion of the access panel interior panel 25 such that the access panel open loop channel 38 is sealed by compression of the rear panel 24 against the access panel interior panel 25.
One or more access panel septa 66 may be located within the access panel open loop channel 38. The access panel septa 66 may separate the first flow 32A traveling through the access panel open loop channel 38.
In other exemplary embodiments the access panel 16 may be cooled by convection. In such embodiments, the access panel open loop channel 38 may be provided but no open loop fans 62 may be required. Instead, the access panel open loop channel 38 may remain open to the ambient air 32, which may travel through the open loop by natural convection, wind, and the like. Alternatively, or in addition, the access panel open loop channel 38 may serve as a thermal buffer to the remainder of the assembly 10.
As illustrated in
It is notable that while the assembly 10 is illustrated in a landscape arrangement, it is contemplated that the assembly 10 may be provided in a portrait arrangement. Any size and shape assembly 10 is contemplated. In such embodiments, the lower portion 18 may be positioned such that it extends below the lower edge of the electronic display 15.
Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications 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.
Claims
1. An assembly for an electronic display comprising:
- a frame;
- a digital side assembly mounted to said frame and comprising: a housing; a cover panel; one or more display layers located behind said cover panel; a front channel located between said display layer and said cover panel; and a side assembly open loop channel located behind the display layer;
- an access panel mounted to said frame and comprising an access panel open loop channel;
- a cooling channel located within said frame and between a rear surface of said access panel and a rear surface of said digital side assembly;
- an open loop pathway for ambient air comprising said side assembly open loop channel and said access panel open loop channel; and
- a closed loop pathway for circulating gas comprising said cooling channel and said front channel.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
- said access panel and said digital side assembly are mounted to opposing sides of said frame in a hinged fashion.
3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
- one or more closed loop fans positioned along the closed loop pathway to force the circulating gas through the closed loop.
4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising:
- one or more open loop fans positioned along the open loop pathway to force the ambient air through the open loop.
5. The assembly of claim 4 further comprising:
- a heat exchanger located in said cooling channel and comprising one or more closed loop layers for circulating gas and one or more open loop layers for ambient air, wherein said open loop pathway further comprises said one or more open loop layers and said closed loop pathways comprise said one or more closed loop layers.
6. The assembly of claim 5 further comprising:
- one or more electronic components for operating the digital side assembly mounted within said cooling channel.
7. The assembly of 6 further comprising:
- an intake opening for ingesting the ambient air located in said access panel; and
- an exhaust opening for exhausting the ambient air located in said access panel.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein:
- said intake opening is in fluid communication with said side assembly open loop channel, said access panel open loop channel, and said open loop layers of the heat exchanger.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein:
- said exhaust opening is in fluid communication with cooling channel, said front channel, and said closed loop layers of the heat exchanger.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein:
- said one or more open loop fans comprise a first, second, third, and fourth open loop fan;
- said first and second fans are configured to force ambient air through only said side assembly open loop channel and said access pane open loop channel;
- said third fan is configured to force ambient air through only the one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger; and
- said fourth fan is configured to force ambient air through only the one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger and the side assembly open loop channel.
11. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
- at least one bracket for mounting the assembly to a mounting structure such that said assembly is tilted at a downward angle.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein:
- said mounting structure is a pole; and
- said downward angle is between five and fifteen degrees.
13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
- a corrugated layer located in said side assembly open loop channel;
- at least one septum located in said access panel open loop channel;
- a lower portion of said frame which extends below said digital side assembly; and
- one or more peripheral devices located at said lower portion, wherein said one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of: a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a sensor.
14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
- a rear surface of said access panel is comprised of a substantially opaque material.
15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
- the display layer is comprised of liquid crystals; and
- the display layer is directly backlit.
16. An assembly for an electronic display comprising:
- a frame having a first side and a second side which oppose one another;
- a digital side assembly mounted to the first side of said frame in a hinged fashion and comprising: a housing; a cover panel; a display layer located behind said cover panel; a front channel located between said display layer and said cover panel; a side assembly open loop channel located behind the display layer; and a corrugated layer located within the side assembly open loop channel;
- an access panel mounted to the second side of said frame in a hinged fashion and comprising an access panel open loop channel;
- a cooling channel located between said frame, a rear surface of said access panel, and a rear surface of said digital side assembly;
- a heat exchanger located in said cooling channel and comprising one or more closed loop layers for circulating gas and one or more open loop layers for ambient air;
- an open loop pathway for ambient air comprising said side assembly open loop channel, said access panel open loop channel, and said one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger; and
- a closed loop pathway for circulating gas comprising said cooling channel, said front channel, and said one or more closed loop layers of the heat exchanger.
17. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising:
- a first and a second open loop fan positioned to force air through only said side assembly open loop channel and said access pane open loop channel;
- a third open loop fan positioned to force air through only the one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger; and
- a fourth open loop fan configured to force air through only the one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger and the side assembly open loop channel.
18. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising:
- a number of stiffeners located within said access panel open loop channel; and
- a number of apertures in said stiffeners configured to permit the ambient air to pass therethrough.
19. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising:
- at least one bracket for mounting the assembly to a pole such that said assembly is tilted at a downward angle.
20. An assembly for an electronic display comprising:
- a frame having an upper side, a lower side, a right side, and a left side which form a substantially rectangular structure;
- a digital side assembly mounted to the upper side of said frame in a hinged fashion and comprising: a housing; a cover panel; one or more liquid crystal layers located behind, spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to said cover panel; a backlight layer located behind, spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to said liquid crystal layer; a front channel located between said liquid crystal layer and said cover panel; a digital side assembly interior panel located behind, spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to said backlight layer; and a side assembly open loop channel located between said backlight layer and said digital side assembly interior panel;
- an access panel mounted to the upper side of said frame in a hinged fashion such that said access panel is paced in a back to back arrangement with said digital side assembly, said access panel comprising: a rear panel comprised of an opaque material; an access panel interior panel located behind, spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to said rear panel; an access panel open loop channel located between said rear panel and said access panel interior panel; an intake opening located along a first side said rear panel; and an exhaust opening located along a second side said rear panel;
- a cooling channel located between said upper side, said left side, said right side, said lower side, said access panel interior panel, and said digital side assembly interior panel;
- a heat exchanger located in said cooling channel and comprising one or more closed loop layers for circulating gas and one or more open loop layers for ambient air;
- an open loop pathway for ambient air comprising said side assembly open loop channel, said access panel open loop channel, and said one or more open loop layers of the heat exchanger;
- a closed loop pathway for circulating gas comprising said cooling channel, said front channel, and said one or more closed loop layers of the heat exchanger;
- a number of closed loop fans positioned adjacent to said heat exchanger to force the circulating gas through the closed loop; and
- a number of open loop fans positioned adjacent to the exhaust opening to force the ambient air through the open loop.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2020
Inventor: William Dunn (Alpharetta, GA)
Application Number: 16/373,810