Fan control for electronic display assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12022635-B2
Application number	US-202217694261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 15, 2021
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

Condensation control systems and methods for display assemblies are provided. A cover forms part of a housing for an electronic display, the housing accommodating an airflow pathway. Temperature sensors located along the airflow pathway measure temperature which is reported to a controller. The controller determines a dewpoint temperature and calculates a dewpoint spread between the dewpoint temperature and the measured temperature. Where the dewpoint spread is less than a predetermined threshold, modified operations are initiated by the controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display assembly with condensation control comprising:
a housing;
an electronic display located within the housing and configured to display images;
a cover forming part of said housing and positioned forward of said electronic display, wherein said cover is configured to permit viewing of the images displayed at the electronic display through said cover;
an airflow pathway extending within the housing;
one or more temperature sensors located along said airflow pathway; and
a controller in electronic communication with said one or more sensors and comprising one or more electronic storage devices comprising software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
determine a dewpoint temperature;
receive a measured temperature from said one or more temperature sensors;
calculate a dewpoint spread between said dewpoint temperature and said measured temperature;
where said dewpoint spread is less than a predetermined threshold, operate said display assembly in a modified operations mode; and
where said dewpoint spread is more than the predetermined threshold, operate the display assembly with the modified operations mode deactivated.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more fans located along said airflow pathway, wherein said modified operations mode comprises reducing an operating speed of said one or more fans.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said housing comprises an intake and an exhaust; and
said airflow pathway comprises an open loop airflow pathway for ambient air extending between said intake and said exhaust.

4. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said electronic display comprises a backlight; and
said modified operations mode comprises increasing power supplied to a backlight.

5. The display assembly of claim 4 wherein:
said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to: if a maximum safety temperature is exceeded, increase the operating speed of said one or more fans for a period of time or reduce the power supplied to the backlight.

6. The display assembly of claim 3 further comprising:
a closed loop airflow pathway for circulating gas extending within said housing, wherein at least a portion of said closed loop airflow pathway extends between said cover and a forward surface of said electronic display.

7. The display assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
one or more gaskets provided between said closed loop airflow pathway and said airflow pathway, wherein said one or more gaskets are configured to provide a gas-permeable and liquid-tight seal.

8. The display assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
a heat exchanger, wherein a first portion of said heat exchanger forms part of said airflow pathway, and a second portion of said heat exchanger forms part of said closed loop airflow pathway.

9. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said one or more temperature sensors comprise a plurality of temperature sensors; and
said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions, when executed, are further configured to cause said one or more processors to:
receive individual temperature readings from each of said plurality of temperature sensors; and
utilize a highest relative one of said individual temperature readings as said measured temperature.

10. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a network communication device, wherein said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to determine said dewpoint temperature by retrieving data, by way of said network communication device, regarding said dewpoint temperature for an approximate location of said display assembly.

11. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more humidity sensors, wherein said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to determine said dewpoint temperature by receiving humidity readings from said one or more humidity sensors.

12. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a network communication device, wherein said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to:
generate a user interface at a remote device for modifying at least said predetermined threshold;
receive user input regarding modifications to said predetermined threshold; and
utilize said predetermined threshold as modified.

13. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said predetermined threshold is at least 2 degrees Celsius.

14. A system for controlling condensation within a display assembly comprising:
a housing comprising an intake and an exhaust;
an electronic display located within the housing comprising a liquid crystal layer and a backlight;
a cover forming part of said housing and positioned forward of said electronic display, wherein said cover is configured to permit viewing of the images displayed at the electronic display through said cover;
a first airflow pathway for ambient air extending within the housing between said intake and said exhaust;
one or more fans configured to move said ambient air through said first airflow pathway when activated;
a second airflow pathway for circulating gas extending entirely within the housing, wherein said second airflow pathway is configured to separate said circulating gas from said ambient air and permit thermal interaction between said circulating gas in said second airflow pathway and said ambient air within said first airflow pathway;
one or more temperature sensors located along said airflow pathway; and
a controller in electronic communication with said one or more sensors and said one or more fans, said controller comprising software instructions stored at one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed, configure one or more processors of the controller to:
determine a dewpoint temperature;
receive a measured temperature from said one or more temperature sensors;
calculate a dewpoint spread between a dewpoint temperature and said measured temperature;
where said dewpoint spread is less than a predetermined threshold and under a maximum safety threshold, operate said display assembly in a modified operations mode including: reducing an operational speed of said one or more fans, and increasing power supplied to the backlight; and
where said dewpoint spread is less than the predetermined threshold and over the maximum safety threshold, initiate or continue to operate said display assembly in the modified operations mode and increase the operational speed of said one or more fans and reduce the power supplied to the backlight for a period of time; and
where said dewpoint spread is above the predetermined threshold, operate the display assembly with the modified operations mode inactivated.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:
a network communication device in electronic communication with said controller, wherein said one or more electronic storage devices comprise additional software instructions stored at said one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to: retrieve said dewpoint temperature from a remote server by way of said network communication device.

16. A method for controlling cond

Assignees

• Mri Inc

Inventors

• Dunn William
• Brown Mike
• Schuch John

Classifications

• H05K7/20972

  Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components · CPC title

• G02F2201/36

  Airflow channels, e.g. constructional arrangements facilitating the flow of air · CPC title

• G02F1/133382

  Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell · CPC title

• H05K5/0212

  Condensation eliminators · CPC title

• H05K7/20209 Primary

  Thermal management, e.g. fan control · CPC title