Sealed Transparent LCD Assembly With Dual-Sided Light Guide Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display cases lack effective point-of-sale advertising, leading to reduced product awareness and sales, as they do not utilize advanced technologies to enhance visual presentation and thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A sealed transparent LCD assembly is integrated into a display case, featuring a light guide sandwiched between front and rear glass with LEDs along the edges, allowing light to exit both surfaces and accommodating thermal expansion, and is thermally managed with plates and brackets to maintain performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional display cases are used without advanced technologies, then the device complexity is low, but the product visibility and advertising effectiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated display case system: the transparent front panel serves as both a display surface and a thermal barrier, the LCD assembly integrates lighting and display functions, and the thermal management system combines cooling channels with the display structure. This merging approach enhances product visibility while avoiding excessive complexity by consolidating functions rather than adding separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The display case is designed with multi-functional components: the transparent front panel simultaneously provides structural support, thermal insulation, and display functionality; the LCD assembly serves both as information display and as part of the thermal management system; the cooling channels integrate with the display structure to provide both cooling and structural support. This multi-functionality improves visibility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If a sealed transparent LCD assembly is integrated with thermal management, then the thermal stability and display clarity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is merged with the display structure: cooling channels are integrated into the front panel and LCD assembly, thermal plates are combined with the mounting structure, and the sealed enclosure integrates both display and thermal control functions. This integration improves thermal stability while minimizing complexity by avoiding separate thermal management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the LCD assembly is positioned within the front panel, cooling channels are nested within the structural elements, and thermal plates are integrated within the mounting brackets. This nesting approach allows multiple functional layers to coexist in a compact arrangement, improving thermal stability without excessive complexity.
3Temperature
If LEDs are placed in thermal communication with thermal plates, then the thermal management effectiveness is improved, but the heat conduction requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal communication structure merges the LED mounting function with the thermal conduction function: thermal plates are integrated into the LED mounting brackets, creating components that simultaneously secure the LEDs and conduct heat away from them. This approach improves thermal management while avoiding the complexity of separate thermal conduction paths.
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 enhances product visibility and awareness, increasing sales by providing a dynamic and thermally stable display that maintains clarity and functionality, suitable for both refrigerated and non-refrigerated cases.
Implementation Method 1
LEDs are preferably arranged along the top and bottom edges of a light guide which permits the light to exit both the front and rear surface of the light guide
Implementation Method 2
The top LEDs are preferably placed in thermal communication with a top thermal plate which is placed in conductive thermal communication with the rear glass. Similarly, the bottom LEDs are preferably placed in thermal communication with a bottom thermal plate which is also placed in conductive thermal communication with the rear glass
Implementation Method 3
sealed transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed, transparent electronic display assembly is disclosed. The assembly preferably contains a front and a rear transparent panel. The assembly also preferably has a spacer element that is positioned around a perimeter of, and sandwiched between, the front and rear transparent panels, thereby providing a gaseous seal. The transparent electronic display panel is positioned between the front and rear transparent panels. In an exemplary embodiment, a two way light guide would be used within the assembly.