Display Device Suction Fan Nesting and Top Exhaust

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor display devices face challenges with contamination, noise, and inefficient cooling due to exposed suction fans and improper heat discharge, which can lead to malfunctions and discomfort for consumers.

Innovation Solution

A display device design with a suction fan mounted inside the case to prevent contamination and noise, featuring a heat exchanger and cooling passage configuration that directs hot air discharge upwards and allows external air to directly cool the rear surface of the display panel, enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing surface temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the suction fan is exposed to outside through an intake port, then external air can be easily sucked into the case, but contaminants are introduced into the suction fan causing contamination and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair suction efficiencyVSAvoidcontaminant introduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the external environment and the suction fan. The filter allows air to pass through while blocking contaminants, thus protecting the suction fan from contamination while maintaining air suction functionality. The filter acts as a mediator that separates the useful function (air intake) from the harmful aspect (contaminant ingress).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction fan is nested inside the case rather than being externally exposed. The intake port is positioned such that the fan operates within the protected interior space of the case, surrounded by the case structure that shields it from external contaminants and physical damage while still allowing air intake through the designed port configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the suction fan is exposed to outside, then air intake is straightforward, but the suction fan becomes vulnerable to external impact and noise delivery to consumers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair intake simplicityVSAvoidfan protection from impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction fan is nested inside the case structure, positioned within the protected interior space. The case walls surround and protect the fan from external physical impacts, drops, and environmental hazards. The intake port is designed to allow air flow while the fan remains shielded within the case boundaries, combining protection with functional access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The case structure itself acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the external environment and the suction fan. This physical barrier absorbs or deflects external impacts before they reach the fan, while the intake port design ensures air can reach the fan through this protective intermediary without compromising the fan's protected position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If hot air is discharged to the rear surface of the case, then heat exchange is completed, but the hot air is blown to consumers causing inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidhot air exposure to consumers
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust port is repositioned from the rear surface to the top surface of the case, changing the spatial dimension of heat discharge. Instead of expelling hot air horizontally toward consumers at the rear, the system now exhausts vertically upward through the top surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to redirect hot air away from the consumer area where it would otherwise cause discomfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge direction is inverted from the conventional rear-surface exhaust configuration. Rather than discharging hot air toward the rear where consumers might be positioned, the exhaust port is placed on the top surface to discharge upward, effectively inverting the discharge orientation to move hot air in the opposite direction from where it would harm consumers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The solution effectively prevents contamination and noise, improves cooling performance, and maintains a slim case design while ensuring reliable operation and consumer comfort by directing hot air discharge away from consumers and enhancing cooling efficiency through direct air contact with the display panel.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger (127) mounted inside the case and configured to cause heat exchange between internal air circulating along front and rear surfaces of the display panel and external air introduced from outside of the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a suction fan mounted inside the case and configured to suck the external air into a lower portion of the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir suction: Fan

Implementation Method 3

a cooling passage defined at the rear surface of the display panel so that the external air flows therethrough so as to cool the display panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3687265B1Display device
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3687265B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3687265B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3687265B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a display device, which may include a case having a front surface on which a display screen is displayed, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a top surface connecting upper ends of the front surface and the rear surface, and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, a display panel accommodated in the case, a heat exchanger mounted inside the case and configured to cause heat exchange between internal air circulating along front and rear surfaces of the display panel and external air introduced from outside of the case, and a suction fan mounted inside the case and configured to suck the external air into a lower portion of the heat exchanger.