Display assemblies with condensation mitigation and related systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12416829-B2
Application number	US-202418797826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2024
Priority date	Mar 15, 2021
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

Display assemblies and related systems and methods are provided which provide condensation mitigation. A cover layer forms a forward portion of a housing for an electronic display located rearward of the cover layer. A continuous airflow pathway extends entirely within the housing such that the continuous airflow pathway is partitioned from an ambient environment. One or more gaskets are provided which, at least in part, partition the continuous airflow pathway from the ambient environment. The one or more gaskets extending from an interior surface of the cover layer to a portion of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display assembly providing condensation mitigation, said display assembly comprising:
a housing;
a cover layer forming a forward portion of the housing, wherein said cover layer is transparent or translucent;
an electronic display located within the housing rearward of the cover layer, wherein said cover layer has an outer perimeter which extends beyond an outer perimeter of the electronic display;
a continuous airflow pathway extending entirely within the housing such that the continuous airflow pathway is partitioned from an ambient environment, wherein the continuous airflow pathway extends, at least in part, forward and rearward of the electronic display to form a circuit; and
one or more gaskets provided to, at least in part, partition said continuous airflow pathway from the ambient environment, wherein said one or more gaskets extend from an interior surface of the cover layer to a portion of the housing interior to said cover layer without contacting said electronic display so as to provide one or more gaps fluidly connecting portions of the continuous airflow pathway extending forward and rearward of the electronic display as part of said circuit.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more sensors located internal to said housing; and
a controller in electronic communication with said one or more sensors and comprising software instructions stored at one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
determine a dewpoint temperature for air at the display assembly;
determine an internal temperature for the display assembly based, at least in part, on data received from said one or more sensors;
calculate a dewpoint spread between said dewpoint temperature and said internal temperature;
where said dewpoint spread is equal to or below a first predetermined value, initiate modified operations; and
where said dewpoint spread is equal to or above a second predetermined value, cease said modified operations.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
an additional airflow pathway extending through at least a portion of said housing; and
one or more fans located along said additional airflow pathway, wherein said modified operations comprise changing an operating speed for said one or more fans.

4. The display assembly of claim 3 wherein:
said modified operations comprise reducing the operating speed for said one or more fans in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.

5. The display assembly of claim 3 further comprising:
an intake and an exhaust located at said housing and fluidly connected to an ambient environment, wherein said additional airflow pathway comprises an open loop airflow pathway extending between said intake and said exhaust for ambient air; and
one or more additional fans located along the additional airflow pathway, wherein said modified operations comprise modifying an operating speed for said one or more additional fans.

6. The display assembly of claim 5 wherein:
said modified operations comprise reducing the operating speed for said one or more fans in accordance with a predetermined algorithm and increasing the operating speed for said one or more additional fans in accordance with the predetermined algorithm.

7. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said electronic display comprises one or more illumination devices; and
said modified operations comprise increasing power supplied to the one or more illumination devices.

8. The display assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
an additional airflow pathway extending through at least a portion of said housing; and
said one or more sensors comprises a first sensor located within the additional airflow pathway.

9. The display assembly of claim 8 wherein:
said additional airflow pathway is fluidly connected to an ambient environment;
said one or more sensors comprises a second sensor located within the continuous airflow pathway;
the data received from said second sensor is utilized by said controller to determine the internal temperature for the display assembly; and
the data received from the first sensor is utilized by said controller to determine the dewpoint temperature.

10. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said one or more sensors comprise multiple temperature sensors; and
the controller is configured to utilize data from a lowest reporting one of said multiple temperature sensors to determine the internal temperature.

11. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
at least one of the one or more sensors comprises a humidity sensor; and
the controller is configured to receive data from said humidity sensor to determine the dewpoint temperature.

12. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the controller is configured to utilize data from an internet-based weather reporting service to determine the dewpoint temperature.

13. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the controller is configured to receive data from one or more remote electronic device specifying or revising the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value.

14. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said electronic display comprises a liquid crystal display and light emitting diodes providing direct backlighting to the liquid crystal display; and
the continuous airflow pathway is partitioned from the ambient environment in accordance with at least one of: ingress protection code 65 , 66 , 67 , and 68 .

15. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
additional software instructions stored at said one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices, which when executed, configure said one or more processors to: if a predetermined maximum internal temperature threshold is met or exceeded, reduce a power supplied to a backlight for the electronic display.

16. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein:
each of the one or more gaskets comprise a rubberized material; and
each of the one or more gaskets extend exclusively between the interior surface of the cover layer and the portion of the housing interior to said cover layer.

17. A display assembly providing condensation mitigation, said display assembly comprising:
a housing comprising an intake and an exhaust;
a cover layer forming a forward portion of the housing;
an electronic display within the housing rearward of the cover layer;
a first airflow pathway for ambient air extending within the housing between the intake and the exhaust;
a second, continuous airflow pathway extending entirely within the housing such that the second airflow pathway is partitioned from an ambient environment;
one or more sensors located internal to said housing; and
one or more gaskets provided to, at least in part, partition said continuous airflow pathway from said first airflow pathway and the ambient environment, wherein said one or more gaskets extend from an interior surface of the cover layer to a portion of the housing.

18. The display assembly of claim 17 further comprising:
a controller in electronic communication with said one or more sensors and comprising software instructions stored at one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
determine a dewpoint temperature for air at the display assembly;
determine an internal temperature for the display assembly based, at least in part, on data received from said one or more sensors;
calculate a dewpoint spread

Assignees

• Mri Inc

Inventors

• Dunn William
• Brown Mike
• Schuch John

Classifications

• H05K5/0212

  Condensation eliminators · CPC title

• G02F2201/36

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

• H05K7/20972

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

• G02F1/133385 Primary

  with cooling means, e.g. fans · CPC title

• G02F1/133311 Primary

  Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity · CPC title