Display assemblies with closed airflow pathways

A method for moving air within a display assembly comprising:

• a structural framework;
• a first subassembly and a second subassembly attached to the structural framework, at least one of the first and second subassemblies comprising an electronic display layer and a cover positioned forward of the electronic display layer, and each of the first and second subassemblies comprising an airflow passageway;
• a rear passageway positioned between the first and second subassemblies and providing an open, unobstructed space extending between and along rear surfaces of the first and second subassemblies so as to fluidly connect the airflow passageways of the first and second subassemblies, the rear passageway and the airflow passageways of the first and second subassemblies together forming a closed airflow pathway for a circulating gas;
• and
• a first fan unit located in the rear passageway and associated with the first subassembly, and a second fan unit located in the rear passageway and associated with the second subassembly, each of the first and second fan units positioned to move the circulating gas from the rear passageway into the airflow passageway of the associated subassembly;
• the method comprising:
• activating the first and second fan units to move the circulating gas from the rear passageway into the airflow passageway of each associated subassembly such that, for each of the first and second subassemblies, a first portion of the circulating gas exiting the airflow passageway of the subassembly crosses the rear passageway toward an entrance to the airflow passageway of the other subassembly and a second portion of the circulating gas exiting the airflow passageway of the subassembly is directed toward an entrance to the airflow passageway of the same subassembly for recirculation, thereby generating a relatively turbulent flow of the circulating gas within the rear passageway and a relatively laminar flow of the circulating gas within the airflow passageway of each of the first and second subassemblies.

A display assembly comprising:

• a structural framework;
• a first subassembly and a second subassembly moveably attached to opposing sides of the structural framework, each of the first and second subassemblies comprising:
• a cover that is transparent or translucent;
• a layer of liquid crystals located rearward of the cover;
• a direct backlight comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged to directly illuminate the layer of liquid crystals, the direct backlight located rearward of the layer of liquid crystals;
• an airflow passageway extending, at least in part, between the cover and the layer of liquid crystals;
• a rear passageway positioned between the first and second subassemblies, the rear passageway and the airflow passageways of the first and second subassemblies together forming a closed airflow pathway for a circulating gas;
• and
• a first fan unit and a second fan unit, each located in the rear passageway, associated with a respective one of the first and second subassemblies, facing in a different direction from the other, and comprising a plurality of centrifugal fans and a ducted passageway extending from an exit of the fan unit to the airflow passageway of the associated subassembly to the exclusion of the airflow passageway of a non-associated subassembly;
• wherein activation of the first and second fan units is configured to cause a first portion of the circulating gas exiting the airflow passageway of each subassembly to cross the rear passageway to the airflow passageway of the other subassembly and a second portion of the circulating gas exiting the airflow passageway of each subassembly to recirculate to the airflow passageway of the same subassembly, thereby generating a relatively turbulent flow of the circulating gas within the rear passageway.