# US 9,519,185 B2 · Lighting system for transparent liquid crystal display

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- Number: US 9,519,185 B2
- Document ID: US9519185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/230,765
- Filed: 2014-03-31
- Published: 2014-07-31
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-12
- Assignees: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
- Applicants: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
- Inventors: William Dunn; Harry Presley; Mike Brown; Chris Tran
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519185B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/133615: {Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side}
- G02F 1/133308: {Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels}
- G09G 3/3406: {Control of illumination source (illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336)}
- G09G 2330/02: Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00)

## Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a lighting system for a transparent LCD having opposing vertical edges, the system having a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining a center channel. A plurality of LEDs are positioned along the sidewall of each mullion assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel. The LEDs are preferably placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall and preferably have a quantum dot film positioned over each LED. A fan is preferably positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting system for a transparent LCD having opposing vertical edges, the system comprising:
a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining a center channel and;
a plurality of LEDs positioned along the sidewall of each mullion lighting assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel, each LED having a central axis that is directed away from the transparent LCD; and
a quantum dot film placed over the plurality of LEDs; and
a thermal fin extending substantially normal from a sidewall into the center channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a fan positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lighting system of claim 2 further comprising:
a dividing element positioned near a mid-point of the center channel, which divides the center channel into a first and a second portion; and
a plurality of apertures in the sidewall which allow cooling air to enter and exit the center channel;
wherein the fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the first portion and a second fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the second portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The lighting system of claim 2 further comprising:
an aperture within the sidewall which allows cooling air to pass over the power supply for driving the LEDs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a lens positioned adjacent to the LEDs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lighting system of claim 5 further comprising:
collimating elements within the lens and positioned adjacent to each LED.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a flange extending from a sidewall adjacent to the LEDs and positioned at an acute angle relative to the transparent LCD.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a vertical louver position on each side of the LED and angled away from the LCD.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a means for directing the light emitted from the LEDs away from the LCD.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
vertical louvers positioned adjacent to the LEDs and adapted to prevent headlighting through the LCD.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a flange extending from the LEDs and adapted to prevent headlighting through the LCD.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a power supply in electrical communication with the LEDs and placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:
the thermal fin is located between the LEDs.

### Claim 14

A lighting system for a first and second transparent LCD positioned side-by-side, the system comprising:
a mullion lighting assembly positioned between the first and second LCDs and having sidewalls defining a center channel where a first portion of the sidewall is adjacent to the first LCD and a second portion of the sidewall is adjacent to the second LCD;
a first plurality of LEDs positioned along the first portion of the sidewall and having a central axis that is angled away from the first LCD;
a second plurality of LEDs positioned along the second portion of the sidewall and having a central axis that is angled away from the second LCD;
a first quantum dot film placed directly atop the first plurality of LEDs;
a second quantum dot film placed directly atop the second plurality of LEDs; and
a lens positioned adjacent to the first and second plurality of LEDs, wherein said lens comprises collimating elements.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The lighting system of claim 14 wherein:
the first plurality of LEDs are in conductive thermal communication with the first portion of the sidewall; and
the second plurality of LEDs are in conductive thermal communication with the second portion of the sidewall.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising:
a fan positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The lighting system of claim 16 further comprising:
a dividing element positioned near a mid-point of the center channel, which divides the center channel into a first and a second portion; and
a plurality of apertures in the sidewall which allow cooling air to enter and exit the center channel;
wherein the fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the first portion and a second fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the second portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising:
a thermal fin positioned within the center channel and in conductive thermal communication with a sidewall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The lighting system of claim 18 wherein:
the thermal fin extends substantially normal from a sidewall into the center channel.

### Claim 20

A lighting system for the door of a display case containing several retail products, the door having a transparent LCD positioned behind a front glass where the LCD has a pair of vertical edges, the system comprising:
a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining a center channel;
a plurality of LEDs positioned along a sidewall of each mullion lighting assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel, each LED is placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall and has a central axis aimed towards the retail products;
a quantum dot film placed between the LEDs and the retail products; and
a louver positioned over top of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the louver extends vertically along the mullion lighting assembly.