Transparent LCD Light Guide Mounting for Heat and Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) assemblies in retail settings lack effective means to enhance product visibility and awareness through additional advertising, as they do not efficiently utilize light to showcase products within display cases.
Innovation Solution
An LED assembly is integrated into a transparent LCD display, with LEDs placed along the edges of a two-way light guide that allows light to exit both the front and rear surfaces, and is thermally managed through top and bottom thermal plates in conductive communication with the glass, allowing for thermal expansion and contraction flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are integrated into the transparent LCD display to enhance product visibility, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat dissipation becomes a problem
Solution Approach 1:
The LED assembly is segmented into multiple LED units distributed along the edges of the light guide, with separate thermal plates for heat management. This segmentation allows better heat distribution and dissipation across multiple contact points with the glass, preventing localized overheating while maintaining high illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal plates are introduced as intermediary components between the LEDs and the glass. These thermal plates conduct heat away from the LEDs to the glass, which acts as a heat sink. This intermediary structure enables efficient heat transfer while maintaining the transparency and visual quality of the display.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid light guide structure is used to maintain structural stability, then stability is improved, but thermal expansion and contraction cause misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with floating mounting that allows it to move dynamically in response to thermal expansion and contraction. The light guide can expand and contract freely while remaining constrained in the vertical direction, adapting to temperature changes without causing misalignment or structural damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The design explicitly accounts for thermal expansion by allowing the light guide to float and move horizontally. The mounting structure accommodates the natural thermal expansion and contraction of the light guide material, preventing stress buildup and maintaining proper alignment across temperature variations.
3Area of stationary object
If LEDs are placed along the edges of the light guide to maximize light distribution, then illumination coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into integrated assemblies: LEDs are mounted directly on thermal plates, which are then attached to the glass. The light guide itself serves as both the structural element and the light distribution medium. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide performs multiple functions: it serves as the structural framework for mounting LEDs, acts as the light distribution medium through total internal reflection, and provides thermal management pathways. The thermal plates simultaneously manage heat from LEDs and transfer it to the glass. This multi-functionality reduces component count and assembly complexity.
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 by ensuring consistent and efficient light distribution within the display case, increasing awareness and potential sales by effectively illuminating products from both sides, while managing heat dissipation through thermal communication.
Implementation Method 1
a two way 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
Implementation Method 3
to account for thermal expansion/contraction of the light guide
Data Source
AI summary
A transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly is disclosed. The assembly has an LCD panel and a light guide placed behind the LCD panel. The light guide ideally contains a front and rear surface. The assembly preferably has a front bracket that contacts the front surface of the light guide and a rear bracket that contacts the rear surface of the light guide. While the light guide is constrained from movement towards or away from the LCD panel by the front and rear brackets, the light guide is generally permitted to move parallel to the LCD panel.