Thermal plate with optional cooling loop in electronic display
AssigneeManufacturing Resources International, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Dunn, Don Le, Ware Bedell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims19
A thermal plate for use with an electronic display placed within a thermally-conductive housing, the thermal plate comprising:
- a first portion which is in conductive thermal communication with the electronic display;
- and
- a second portion extending from the first portion and placed within conductive thermal communication with the housing.
A method for using a thermal plate to cool an electronic display within a thermally-conductive housing and having a transparent plate assembly positioned in front of the electronic display, the method comprising:
- presenting a thermal plate comprising a first portion which is in conductive thermal communication with the electronic display, and a second portion extending from the first portion and placed within conductive thermal communication with the housing;
- allowing heat to transfer from the electronic display to the first portion;
- allowing heat to transfer from the first portion to the second portion;
- and
- allowing heat to transfer from the second portion to the housing.
A thermal plate assembly for use with first and second electronic displays placed back-to-back and within a thermally-conductive housing, each electronic display having an edge-lit backlight and a gap defined by the space between the electronic display and a transparent plate assembly, the thermal plate assembly comprising:
- a first thermal plate placed in conductive thermal communication with the edge-lit backlight of the first display;
- a second thermal plate placed in conductive thermal communication with the edge-lit backlight of the second display;
- and
- a fan positioned to circulate air across the first and second thermal plates as well as through the gap for the first display and the gap for the second display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.