Opposing Air Streams for Liquid Crystal Panel Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooling methods for liquid crystal projector apparatuses face challenges in efficiently reducing operating temperatures while minimizing noise and size, as increasing air velocity to enhance cooling performance leads to increased fan operation noise and potentially exceeding air cooling limits, and existing solutions fail to effectively cool both the liquid crystal panel and polarizing plates simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A cooling apparatus that uses two air cooling units to feed air streams in opposing orientations, causing them to collide perpendicularly on the heat generating planes of the liquid crystal panel and polarizing plates, thereby enhancing heat transfer coefficients and achieving efficient cooling without increasing noise or size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air velocity is increased to enhance cooling performance, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but fan operation noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidfan operation noise
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from unidirectional air flow to bidirectional opposing air flows that collide perpendicular to the heat generating planes. This dimensional change in flow pattern creates impinging jet cooling效果, significantly enhancing heat transfer coefficients without requiring higher air velocities, thus reducing fan noise while maintaining effective cooling

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

2Temperature

If air velocity is increased to enhance cooling performance, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device size may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing opposing air flows from two cooling units that collide perpendicular to the heat generating planes, the patent achieves enhanced cooling efficiency within the existing device footprint. The impinging jet configuration maximizes heat transfer in the available space without requiring additional device volume

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

3Temperature

If conventional cooling methods are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but heat transfer efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcooling apparatus configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling apparatus is segmented into two independent cooling units, each equipped with air supply means. This segmentation allows each unit to independently generate opposing air flows that collide to create enhanced cooling效果, achieving superior heat transfer efficiency while maintaining modular and manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces bidirectional opposing air flows perpendicular to the heat generating planes, transforming the conventional unidirectional cooling approach. This dimensional change in flow configuration significantly enhances heat transfer coefficients without proportionally increasing system complexity

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

4Temperature

If single-direction air cooling is used, then configuration is simple, but both liquid crystal panel and polarizing plates cannot be cooled effectively simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcooling unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing opposing air flows from two cooling units that collide perpendicular to the heat generating planes, the patent achieves enhanced cooling efficiency within the existing device footprint. The impinging jet configuration maximizes heat transfer in the available space without requiring additional device volume

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

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 approach significantly improves heat transfer efficiency, allowing for effective cooling of liquid crystal units at high heat radiation levels with reduced noise and size, while maintaining image quality by minimizing temperature gradients and variations on the panel surface.

Implementation Method 1

a first air cooling means for feeding a first air stream to the heat generating spot, and second air cooling means for feeding a second air stream to the heat generating spot... causing them to collide perpendicularly on the heat generating planes... enhancing heat transfer coefficients

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2062097B1Apparatus for cooling heat generating spot of electronic device, cooling method therefor, and liquid crystal projector apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS LTD
  • EP2062097B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP2062097B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2062097B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A silent cooling apparatus for effectively reducing the operating temperature of an electronic device includes a plurality of components which include surfaces opposite to each other with a spacing therebetween and have a heat generating spot on at least any of the surfaces opposite to each other, in a small and low-cost configuration. The apparatus for cooling a heat generating spot of an electronic device includes a cooling apparatus for forcedly air-cooling a heat generating spot of an electronic device which includes a plurality of components which are disposed side by side to have the same in-plane direction, and include heat generating spots within their surfaces. The cooling apparatus includes a first air cooling unit for feeding an air stream to the heat generating spot in an orientation of the in-plane direction, and a second air cooling unit for feeding an air stream to the heat generating spot in the in-plane direction in a different orientation from the air stream by the first air cooling unit.