Display Case Passive Heat Sink for LED Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-intensity LED backlighting for outdoor LCD digital signage faces challenges in achieving sufficient illumination while managing heat dissipation, leading to overheating issues and increased costs due to bulky and expensive cooling systems.

Innovation Solution

A display case design featuring a metal frame that acts as a heat sink for the LED illumination module, utilizing passive cooling by conducting heat into the ambient environment, and incorporating a diffuser, reflector, and adjustable lens for efficient light distribution, along with optional features like polarizing filters and solar rejection films, to maintain LED safety and reduce installation complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If large numbers of high-intensity LED backlights are used to achieve sufficient illumination for outdoor LCD digital signage, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat dissipation becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination intensityVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the illumination function and heat dissipation function into a single integrated structure. The heat sink structure serves dual purposes: it provides thermal management for the LED array while simultaneously acting as the mounting support structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling components and reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink structure performs multiple functions: it conducts heat away from LEDs, provides structural support for mounting the LED array, and serves as a rigid framework for the entire display assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If active cooling systems with heat exchangers are used to manage heat dissipation, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the active cooling components (fans, heat exchangers, liquid cooling systems) from the design and replaces them with a passive thermal management approach. By removing these complex active systems and using only the passive heat sink structure, the device complexity is significantly reduced while maintaining adequate temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink structure provides self-service thermal management by naturally conducting heat away from the LEDs through its inherent thermal conductivity and large surface area. The structure serves itself for cooling without requiring external active cooling systems, control mechanisms, or additional energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If active cooling systems with heat exchangers are used to manage heat dissipation, then temperature control is improved, but weight and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the illumination function and heat dissipation function into a single integrated structure. The heat sink structure serves dual purposes: it provides thermal management for the illumination module while simultaneously acting as the mounting support structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling components and reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink structure performs multiple functions: it conducts heat away from LEDs, provides structural support for mounting the LED array, and serves as a rigid framework for the entire display assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Temperature

If active cooling systems with heat exchangers are used to manage heat dissipation, then temperature control is improved, but installation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the active cooling components (fans, heat exchangers, liquid cooling systems) from the design and replaces them with a passive thermal management approach. By removing these complex active systems and using only the passive heat sink structure, the device complexity is significantly reduced while maintaining adequate temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively maintains LED safety, reduces the risk of solar clearing, and lowers costs by using passive cooling and modular design, allowing for easier installation and maintenance, while achieving high-intensity illumination without the need for heavy and expensive active cooling systems.

Implementation Method 1

the illumination module is in thermal communication with at least a part of the metal structure of the frame, and the frame is in thermal communication with the external ambient environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

By having the illumination module in thermal communication with at least a part of the case frame or body the frame may act as a heat sink for the illumination module, thereby enhancing cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sink: Heat Sink

Implementation Method 3

a diffuser located between the illumination module and the display such that the illumination module illuminates the inner-facing surface of the diffuser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP2954510B1Display case
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 CLEAR CHANNEL INT
  • EP2954510B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2954510B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2954510B1 patent drawingFigure 6(a)~6(b)

AI summary

A display case (100) for illuminating a display, comprising: a frame (110), for holding the display; and an illumination module (130); wherein the illumination module (130) is in thermal communication with at least a part of the frame, and the frame (110) is in thermal communication with the external ambient environment.