thermal management of lcd displays in stock

On non-touch LCDs apply no pressure to the LCD surface and ensure no impact can be made by end users to it. There is no specification for pressure or impact on non-touch LCDs.

Avoid excessive and pointed force on the back of the chassis of the LCD which can damage the backlight structure and cause hot spots on the display or permanent damage to the unit

If the LCD glass breaks and the LCD liquid materials escape, avoid contact with bare skin. Wash exposed skin with soap and water immediately and dispose of the product according to local materials handling procedures.

The use of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in user interface assemblies is widespread across nearly all industries, locations, and operating environments. Over the last 20 years, the cost of LCD displays has significantly dropped, allowing for this technology to be incorporated into many of the everyday devices we rely on.

The odds are high you are reading this blog post on a laptop or tablet, and it’s likely the actual screen uses LCD technology to render the image onto a low-profile pane of glass. Reach into your pocket. Yes, that smartphone likely uses LCD technology for the screen. As you enter your car, does your dashboard come alive with a complex user interface? What about the menu at your favorite local drive-thru restaurant? These are some everyday examples of the widespread use of LCD technology.

But did you know that the U.S. military is using LCD displays to improve the ability of our warfighters to interact with their equipment? In hospitals around the world, lifesaving medical devices are monitored and controlled by an LCD touchscreen interface. Maritime GPS and navigation systems provide real-time location, heading, and speed information to captains while on the high seas. It’s clear that people’s lives depend on these devices operating in a range of environments.

As the use of LCDs continues to expand, and larger screen sizes become even less expensive, one inherent flaw of LCDs remains: LCD pixels behave poorly at low temperatures. For some applications, LCD displays will not operate whatsoever at low temperatures. This is important because for mil-aero applications, outdoor consumer products, automobiles, or anywhere the temperature is below freezing, the LCD crystal’s performance will begin to deteriorate. If the LCD display exhibits poor color viewing, sluggish resolution, or even worse, permanently damaged pixels, this will limit the ability to use LCD technologies in frigid environments. To address this, there are several design measures that can be explored to minimize the impact of low temperatures on LCDs.

Most LCD displays utilize pixels known as TFT (Thin-Film-Transistor) Color Liquid Crystals, which are the backbone to the billions of LCD screens in use today. Since the individual pixels utilize a fluid-like crystal material as the ambient temperature is reduced, this fluid will become more viscous compromising performance. For many LCD displays, temperatures below 0°C represent the point where performance degrades.

Have you tried to use your smartphone while skiing or ice fishing? What about those of you living in the northern latitudes - have you accidently left your phone in your car overnight where the temperatures drop well below freezing? You may have noticed a sluggish screen response, poor contrast with certain colors, or even worse permanent damage to your screen. While this is normal, it’s certainly a nuisance. As a design engineer, the goal is to select an LCD technology that offers the best performance at the desired temperature range. If your LCD display is required to operate at temperatures below freezing, review the manufacturer’s data sheets for both the operating and storage temperature ranges. Listed below are two different off-the-shelf LCD displays, each with different temperature ratings. It should be noted that there are limited options for off-the-shelf displays with resilience to extreme low temperatures.

For many military applications, in order to comply with the various mil standards a product must be rated for -30°C operational temperature and -51°C storage temperature. The question remains: how can you operate an LCD display at -30°C if the product is only rated for -20°C operating temperature? The answer is to use a heat source to raise the display temperature to an acceptable range. If there is an adjacent motor or another device that generates heat, this alone may be enough to warm the display. If not, a dedicated low-profile heater is an excellent option to consider.

Made of an etched layer of steel and enveloped in an electrically insulating material, a flat flexible polyimide heater is an excellent option where space and power are limited. These devices behave as resistive heaters and can operate off a wide range of voltages all the way up to 120V. These heaters can also function with both AC and DC power sources. Their heat output is typically characterized by watts per unit area and must be sized to the product specifications. These heaters can also be affixed with a pressure sensitive adhesive on the rear, allowing them to be “glued” to any surface. The flying leads off the heater can be further customized to support any type of custom interconnect. A full-service manufacturing partner like Epec can help develop a custom solution for any LCD application that requires a custom low-profile heater.

With no thermal mass to dissipate the heat, polyimide heaters can reach temperatures in excess of 100°C in less than a few minutes of operation. Incorporating a heater by itself is not enough to manage the low temperature effects on an LCD display. What if the heater is improperly sized and damages the LCD display? What happens if the heater remains on too long and damages other components in your system? Just like the thermostat in your home, it’s important to incorporate a real-temp temperature sensing feedback loop to control the on/off function of the heater.

The first step is to select temperature sensors that can be affixed to the display while being small enough to fit within a restricted envelope. Thermistors, thermocouples, or RTDs are all options to consider since they represent relatively low-cost and high-reliability ways to measure the display’s surface temperature. These types of sensors also provide an electrical output that can be calibrated for the desired temperature range.

The next step is to determine the number of temperature sensors and their approximate location on the display. It’s recommended that a minimum of two temperature sensors be used to control the heater. By using multiple sensors, this provides the circuit redundancy and allows for a weighted average of the temperature measurement to mitigate non-uniform heating. Depending on the temperature sensors location, and the thermal mass of the materials involved, the control loop can be optimized to properly control the on/off function of the heater.

Another important consideration when selecting a temperature sensor is how to mount the individual sensors onto the display. Most LCD displays are designed with a sheet metal backer that serves as an ideal surface to mount the temperature sensors. There are several types of thermally conductive epoxies that provide a robust and cost-effective way to affix the delicate items onto the display. Since there are several types of epoxies to choose from, it’s important to use a compound with the appropriate working life and cure time.

For example, if you are kitting 20 LCD displays and the working life of the thermal epoxy is 8 minutes, you may find yourself struggling to complete the project before the epoxy begins to harden.

Before building any type of prototype LCD heater assembly, it’s important to carefully study the heat transfer of the system. Heat will be generated by the flexible polyimide heater and then will transfer to the LCD display and other parts of the system. Although heat will radiate, convect, and be conducted away from the heater, the primary type of heat transfer will be through conduction. This is important because if your heater is touching a large heat sink (ex. aluminum chassis), this will impact the ability of the heater to warm your LCD display as heat will be drawn toward the heat sink.

Insulating materials, air gaps, or other means can be incorporated in the design to manage the way heat travels throughout your system on the way toward an eventual “steady state” condition. During development, prototypes can be built with numerous temperature sensors to map the heat transfer, allowing for the optimal placement of temperature sensors, an adequately sized heater, and a properly controlled feedback loop.

Before freezing the design (no pun intended) on any project that requires an LCD display to operate at low temperatures, it’s critical to perform low temperature first. This type of testing usually involves a thermal chamber, a way to operate the system, and a means to measure the temperature vs time. Most thermal chambers provide an access port or other means to snake wires into the chamber without compromising performance. This way, power can be supplied to the heater and display, while data can be captured from the temperature sensors.

The first objective of the low-temperature testing is to determine the actual effects of cold exposure on the LCD display itself. Does the LCD display function at cold? Are certain colors more impacted by the cold than others? How sluggish is the screen? Does the LCD display performance improve once the system is returned to ambient conditions? These are all significant and appropriate questions and nearly impossible to answer without actual testing.

As LCD displays continue to be a critical part of our society, their use will become even more widespread. Costs will continue to decrease with larger and larger screens being launched into production every year. This means there will be more applications that require their operation in extreme environments, including the low-temperature regions of the world. By incorporating design measures to mitigate the effects of cold on LCD displays, they can be used virtually anywhere. But this doesn’t come easy. Engineers must understand the design limitations and ways to address the overarching design challenges.

A full-service manufacturing partner like Epec offers a high-value solution to be able to design, develop, and manufacture systems that push the limits of off-the-shelf hardware like LCD displays. This fact helps lower the effective program cost and decreases the time to market for any high-risk development project.

Here is a picture inside the TV without the rear cover. The power supply includes the inverter stage for the backlight panel using only two HV transformers. Such design idea sounds very good because all EEFL tubes are connected in parallel avoiding the use of small transformers/inverters stages for each lamp minimizing in this way electronic issues on the backlight stage.

Compared to former CCLF, the new EEFL shows superior performance and applications. This incredible technology combines low power consumption and enhanced luminescence as compared to similar lighting sources. The most attractive feature of EEFL (External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp) is the absence of electrodes in the discharge tube, which is the main factor limiting lamp life. Electrode burn-out is the main cause of fault in CCFL. Because each CCFL lamp need its own ballast the new EEFL technology is simpler in electronics circuitry reducing in this way the rate of failures. EEFL lamps consist of a completely enclosed glass tube with external metal electrodes at both ends. This design minimizes electrode burn-out and results in a longer lamp life. Because the electrodes in former CCFL technology are in direct contact with the rare gasses, CCFL run warmer than the EEFL which are completely cool. On average, EEFL lamps have a lamp life of over 50,000 hours.

I figured out that three main areas on the circuit layout requires additional cooling. The hottest part was the digital class D audio amplifier (STA381BW) because overheats to much (manufacturer datasheet claims approx 3 watts of heat dissipation !!!) so I put a passive aluminum cooler to cool it down. Because the rear plastic cover touched the cooler I cut one of the corners. Using a smaller one was to weak to cool down the device at safe temperatures.

The digital scaler image MT5366 processor and glue logic ICs are located below a metallic RFI shield acting at the same time as a heatsink. Unfortunately the metal shield in use affects the efficiency on thermal conductivity of heat because is to thin leading to hot spots on the components. To correct such design issue the most convenient is to install a passive cooler. To cool down the MT5366 system on chip platform processor an older 486 mother board heatsink (the black one after changes third picture below) do the job well. The use of a thicker heatsink improves the thermal conductivity (spread of heat) avoiding hot spots on the devices.

The last part that requires additional cooling was the HDMI switch inputs selector (SiI9185 device schematic picture above) soldered on the right corner next to the HDMI inputs. Its based on the HDMI 1.3, DDC, HDCP specifications including a CEC (consumer electronics control) single wire bus interface to transmit I/O remote commands through a home network and EDID display identification (plug & play feature stored on serials EEPROMs). Researching datasheets from other versions I figured out that the device in operation consumes approximately 1.5 watts average but such information is not released by manufacturer. The device reach a working temperature of approximately 100 grads Celsius when HDMI inputs are enabled receiving stream data. Watching TV channels (digital DVB or analog cable) the HDMI switch remains cool because is in power down/suspend mode. At glance the HDMI switch overheats only when the inputs are enabled. Without an appropriate heatsink the life endurance of the device is affected because such operating condition can lead to a short circuit on terminals due silicon breakdown !!! . The HDMI switch integrates electrostatic discharge protections on its inputs up to 2kV discarding any possibilities of damages due weak ESD spikes but strong lightning electromagnetic discharges are a big problem without ESD protectors.

In the case of factory cooling all mentioned devices use the "ePad" enhancement, a small metal surface below the IC core case to transfer the silicon heat to PCB board. Despite the idea to reduce manufacturing costs avoiding in this way the use of external heatsinks such cheap PCB cooling solution is not appropriate at all. We verified on all the mentioned devices an excessive heat that unfortunately can lead to operational malfunctions/issues leading to a short durability.

After changes the overall heat is reduced due the improvements on heat conductivity and air convection cooling reducing the average working temperature on overall components avoiding at the same time hot spots on digital ICs (core of the silicon device).

To improve more the cooling on the T-Con LCD panel board we put a SinoGuide TCP400 series thermal pad on the main IC to increase the heat transfer on the metallic shield (this is more thick in diameter and seems to be OK for cooling purposes).

Modern LCD screens have a great many uses. Not only are they now the system of choice for our home TVs and computers but their use in digital signage has made them a common sight in many shopping malls, airports and other locations with high quantities of people.

Even outdoor locations are no barrier to the use of modern LCD screens with outdoor digital signage a rising medium now seen in many town centers, car parks, front of stores and train station platforms.

All this out of home use means many screens operate in locations test the temperature limits of LCD displays. While waterproof screens and LCD enclosures designed for rugged applications provide the ability of the screen to operate-even in outdoor locations, one consideration often overlooked, is that of temperature.

LCD screens have a limited temperature range. Not only will the electronics inside an TV screen overheat and cause failure if the screen gets too hot, but the liquid crystal itself will begin to deteriorate under hot conditions.

The same is true of environments where temperatures fall below zero, causing a screen to stop functioning. A typical LCD TV has an operating range between 0°C (32°F) and 32°C (90°F).

Of course, many indoor and outdoor locations don’t suffer temperatures outside of this range, but many locations do and placing screens in these areas can prove challenging.

One of the problems with using a screen in hot locations is that the screen itself produces quite a bit of heat. When housed in an outdoor enclosure, the heat has to be continuously removed. While cooling fans combined with an air-vent normally carry out this task on an LCD, the need to prevent moisture from getting to the screen makes the task more complicated.

In cold climates the opposite problem occurs. The need to keep heat in often requires insulation of the screen enclosure. Often this can trap enough of the heat generated by the screen itself to keep the internal temperature above minimum, but in some locations, even this isn’t enough. Heaters, controlled by thermostats provide extra heat in these circumstances, which enables the use of LCD displays in extremely cold locations such as ski-resorts and in Arctic regions.

Many cities around the world, especially Paris and other European cities, are seeing heat waves like they’ve never known this summer. Record-breaking temperatures swept across the continent, impacting Europeans, many of whom don’t have air conditioning in their homes.

These extreme temperatures can also harm digital displays, which are typically designed to operate between 32 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, as the temperature increases for long periods, like the intense European heat, which reached 108.7 degrees Fahrenheit in Paris, digital signage may experience issues or even stop functioning.

Because heat damage has been so prevalent this year, it’s essential to take a moment and think about how to protect your displays. Even if you haven’t been affected by the recent heat waves, consider your area’s climate and whether or not your devices are protected.

If you’re worried about heat damage or live in an area where extreme temperatures are prevalent, consider exploring a custom solution. Manufacturers can often create screen enclosures complete with fans or an internal heating unit. Each of these elements helps air circulate within the displays, thus stabilizing the internal temperature. Some custom work can protect devices from temperatures ranging anywhere from -22 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermal management technology is an ideal safeguard for when temperatures fall outside of the optimal operating zone.

Whether outside or indoors, protecting your displays from direct sunlight is crucial. Direct sunlight will not only increase a device’s overall temperature, but it can also create specific hotspots. Hotspots refer to areas of high heat that can lead to permanent scarring of the LCD, LED or plasma screen. In LCD screens specifically, direct sunlight can cause the Liquid Crystal cells inside the display to boil, leaving behind a black spot. This phenomenon is known as solar clearing. If the LCD screen overheats, it can also lead to isotropic failure, and you may need to replace the device. Position digital signage out of direct sunlight, whenever possible. Whether inside a custom screen enclosure or under a tent or awning, this tactic will extend the life of your device. At least very least, provide proper airflow to keep the displays cool and functioning properly.

Anti-glare glass protects your screens, as well. They deflect the light, improving readability as well as keeping your digital displays cool. Do your research first, though, as some anti-glare displays will reduce visibility for people wearing polarized lenses.

Temperature regulation should be a key player from the beginning of your digital signage deployment. Installation should begin with a site assessment to determine where to place your displays to avoid hotspots and solar clearing as well as optimize the user experience. Installers should also understand how sunlight and heat affect digital displays, not to mention how the devices themselves can generate heat after being powered on for long periods.

Kinettix has a global partnership of field techs who understand the inner workings of these displays and are ready to help you with your digital signage deployment. Our skilled partners know the importance of digital signage thermal management and know when to recommend increased protections.

The liquid crystal material in an LCD has a transition temperature called the Nematic to Isotropic (N – I) point. This is similar to the transition temperature.  Beyond the N – I point, the liquid crystal is no longer in liquid crystal state. As a result, the LCD loses its display effect and an LCD blackout occurs.

In an LCD with TN (twisted nematic) technology, you can have an LCD blackout after the temperature rises beyond the N – I point. To users, this phenomenon happens when  “the display goes black”.

Just like the transition between ice and water, the N – I transition is also reversible with generally no permanent damage to the LCD.  However,  if the LCD goes through too many N – I transitions, there are some secondary effects that can cause a gradual degradation of the display performances.

For example a 5.0” LCD has an operating temperature range from 0 to 50˚C.  The factory measures its N – I transition temperature at 82.5 ˚C.  As a result, an LCD blackout occurs at about 80˚C and beyond.  This is 30˚C above the maximum recommended operating temperature, making this LCD quite suitable for outdoor applications.

The very high brightness backlight in a sunlight readable LCD module consumes a significant amount of power that can heat the LCD to a temperature higher than normal. In addition, the front surface of an LCD is a good sunlight absorber. Thus, even for a standard brightness LCD, its temperature can also rise significantly under the direct sunlight illumination.

The exact amount of LCD temperature rise due to these two factors depends on how the LCD module is mounted and also on the heat dissipation design. For example, if the LCD is mounted vertically, a significant portion of the VHB backlight heat will be dissipated into the air without heating up the LCD panel, and as a result, the LCD temperature rise will be low. On the other hand, if the LCD module is mounted horizontally, then almost all of the backlight heat rises to warm up the LCD panel. In addition, if a small fan or a heat sink is mounted onto the VHB backlight, the temperature rise of the LCD panel can be reduced significantly.

The module is a 10.4” unit operated at 1,500 nits screen luminance with 19 watts backlight power. LCD is tilted at a 25˚ angle from the vertical and is operated in still air (i.e., no forced air cooling). There are six thermal sensors to measure the temperature of the LCD panel at various locations.

At t = 0 second, the backlight is turned on. Within the first 15 minutes, the LCD temperature rises about 10˚C, and finally settles with a rise of 19.5˚C. However, if a small CPU fan is attached to the back of the VHB backlight, the temperature rise reduces to 8ºC.  A similar reduction of the LCD temperature can also be achieved by attaching a heat sink onto the backside of the VHB backlight.

The second major cause of LCD blackout is sunlight itself.  LCDs are suitable for outdoor uses because they have a very black front surface.  On the other hand, a black front surface can absorb nearly all of the incident sunlight and heat up the LCD. This effect severely increases the thermal management problem when the LCD is exposed to strong direct sunlight.

Fig. 2 shows a typical LCD temperature rise curve due to direct sunlight exposure. Again, the module is a 10.4” unit. During the test, the VHB backlight was not turned on. So the only heating source is the incident sunlight. On the day this test was conducted, the ambient air temperature was about 26ºC.

The sunlight illumination was about 10,300 foot candles incident onto the LCD at the normal direction. The large fluctuation of the air temperature shown in the graph was due to wind blowing onto the thermal sensor.

The LCD temperature curve indicates that with the absorption of the sunlight, the LCD temperature rises by more than 20˚C within the first 5 minutes. After about 30 minutes, the LCD temperature rises by more than 40˚C. This is more than twice the temperature rise caused by the VHB backlight heat.

The situation shown in Fig. 2 represents the worst case where very bright sunlight shines onto the LCD from a normal direction. If the incident angle of the sunlight is not perpendicular to the LCD, for example, at an angle from the normal direction, then the amount of sunlight power absorbed by the LCD reduces according to the Cosine law. That is:

Fig. 1. The temperature rise curve of a 10.4” LCD with VHB backlight Where P(0) is the power absorbed when the sunlight incident angle is 0º (at perpendicular direction). For example, at an incident angle of 45˚C, the amount of power absorbed by the LCD will be reduced to 70.7% of the amount if the sunlight hits the LCD at normal direction. Thus, the temperature rise will not be as severe as those shown in Fig. 2. However, for any outdoor application where the LCD will be subjected to direct sunshine, it is necessary to consider the extra heat due to sunlight absorption and provide additional cooling capability to avoid LCD overheating.

Now if we add the heating due to MS VHB backlight and the Sunlight together, the LCD temperature can increase by 40 + 19.5 = 59.5 ºC in the worse case! So, if the ambient temperature is 25 ºC, the LCD can reach about 85 ºC (i.e. 25 + 59.5) which is beyond the 82.5 ºC N – I transition point. Therefore, an LCD blackout occurs.

Reducing the LCD screen from 1,500 nits down to 1,000 nits cuts down the backlight power by 1/3, and as a result, reduces the LCD temperature by up to 6.5 ºC.  Therefore an LCD blackout is prevented.

Using a linear polarizer plate in front of the LCD. Align the polarization axis of this plate to match to the front polarizer of the LCD. This polarizer plate will cut down the amount of sunlight falling onto the LCD by nearly 60%. Therefore, the LCD temperature can be reduced by as much as 24 ºC. In the meantime, the LCD brightness will only be reduced by about 10%.

In the cases of B, Please make sure that the linear polarizer cover plate is thermally insulated from the LCD, or the heat generated on the cover place is removed by air flow. Otherwise, the sunlight heat generated on the linear polarizer plate is conducted to the LCD eventually and makes it in-effective to reduce the LCD temperature.

Please remember that the heat due to the sunlight is generated directly at the LCD front surface. So, it is most effective if the cooling is applied on the LCD front surface directly.

If the LCD is cooled by forced air circulation, please make sure the air is clean. Otherwise, as time goes by, dusts and carbon particles in the air will be deposited over the LCD surface.  This will ruin the clarity of the display.

Install the LCD in a position to have a large sunlight incident angle when the sunlight is strongest (for example in noon time during the summer session). A large sunlight incident angle will reduce the amount of sunlight power absorption according to the cosine

The above are some suggestions to keep the LCD cool and prevent an LCD blackout. However, it is absolutely necessary to test the thermal management designs in the real installations under the worst environment (i.e. on a summer day with very bright sunshine).

It is generally safe to operate the LCD beyond its specified temperature range (for example, at a temperature beyond 50 ºC for a 15” LCD) occasionally or for a short period of time.  That being said, we don’t recommend it.  Doing this can significantly shorten the LCD lifetime.

LCD displays are commonly used today in devices that require information to be displayed in human-perceptible form. LCD displays are typically comprised of an enclosure, a LCD module, backlights and supporting electronics. Since LCD displays use thin depth LCD modules to display information as opposed to larger in depth cathode ray tube (CRT) displays for similar sized screens, LCD displays are often used in devices that have packaging and/or space constraints. Unlike LCD displays, the tube in a CRT display increases substantially in depth as the screen size increases.

Electronic devices, such as fuel dispensers and automatic teller machines (ATM) for example, use displays to display information to users of these devices. Such information may be instructions on how to use the machine or a customer"s account status. Such information may also include other useful information and/or services that generate additional revenue beyond the particular function of the device, such as advertising or newsworthy information. Through increasingly easier and cheaper access to the Internet, it has become even more desirable for electronic devices to use displays that are larger in screen size and employ higher resolution color graphics without substantially increasing the depth of the display due to packaging limitations. Therefore, LCD displays are advantageous to use in displays in electronic devices because of the thin nature of LCD modules.

LCD displays used in outdoor devices typically use an environmentally-sealed enclosure since LCD displays include internal components, such as electronics, backlights and display modules, whose operations are sensitive to outdoor conditions, such as water and dust. However, the backlights and the electronic circuitry generate extreme heat during their operation thereby raising the ambient air temperature inside the enclosure. The ambient temperature in the enclosure rises even more in outdoor devices due to sunlight heat. If the ambient temperature in the enclosure is not managed, components of the LCD display 10 may fail. For example, the LCD module may start to white or black out if the ambient temperature inside the enclosure rises above a certain temperature.

One method keeping the ambient air temperature lower inside the enclosure is to provide a larger enclosure so that it takes more heat generated by the internal components of the LCD display and external sources, such as the sunlight, to raise the ambient air temperature inside the enclosure. However, increasing the size of the enclosure is counter to the goal of using a thin depth enclosure for a LCD display.

Therefore, a need exists to provide a thin LCD display enclosure that is sealed from the environment and is capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by the internal components of the LCD display and external heat, such as sunlight.

The present invention relates to a thermal management system for a liquid crystal display (LCD) that is placed inside a thin depth enclosure and may be incorporated into an outdoor device. The thermal management system efficiently transfers and dissipates heat in the ambient air of the LCD display enclosure generated by components of the LCD display and external heat, such as sunlight.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the LCD display comprises an environmentally-sealed, heat conducting enclosure with a backlight assembly having at least one backlight. The backlight assembly is connected to the inside rear portion of the enclosure. A heat sink is attached on the outside rear portion of the enclosure. Heat generated by the backlights is transferred using natural convection from the enclosure to the heat sink, and the heat sink dissipates such heat to the atmosphere.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the LCD display contains the backlight assembly as discussed in the preceding paragraph. The LCD display also contains a lens on the front portion of the enclosure and a LCD module between the lens and the backlight assembly. The LCD module is placed in between the top and bottom of the enclosure to provide air gaps inside and at the top and the bottom of the LCD module to form a circular airflow path around the LCD module. A fan is placed in the airflow path to forcibly move heated air inside the enclosure from the front of the LCD module to the rear portion of the enclosure for heat dissipation through the heat sink and to the atmosphere.

The LCD display may be placed in any type of electronic device, including but not limited to a kiosk, a fuel dispenser, a personal computer, an elevator display, and an automated teller machine (ATM). The LCD display may display information and other instructions to a user of an electronic device incorporating the LCD display. If the LCD display has a touch screen, the LCD display may also act as an input device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a thin depth LCD display enclosure having a thermal management system according to the present invention;

The present invention relates to a thermal management system for a LCD display having a thin depth enclosure, and that may be placed in and outdoor environment and/or device. A thermal management system aids the LCD display 10 in overcoming the effects of internal heat generated by components of the LCD display 10 and heat from sunlight heat, if the LCD display 10 is placed in sunlight. The thermal management system also allows a thinner depth enclosure to be used for the LCD display. Use of a thin depth LCD display may be useful for addressing space and packaging issues for devices requiring a display.

A LCD display 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The LCD display 10 comprises an environmentally-sealed enclosure 12 that has a front portion 14 and a rear portion 16. The environmentally-sealed enclosure 12 protects the internal components of the LCD display 10 from external elements that may affect the proper operation, such as water, dust, etc. The enclosure 12 is constructed out of a heat conducting material, such as sheet metal, aluminum, or copper for example, so that heat generated by components of the LCD display 10 can be dissipated outside of the enclosure 12 to the atmosphere using convective heat transfer. In one embodiment, the depth of the enclosure 12 is approximately 40 millimeters.

The enclosure 12 includes a transparent lens 18 at the front portion 14 of the enclosure 12 for external viewing of the LCD display 10. The lens protects the internal components of the LCD display 10 and also allows the LCD module 26 to be viewed from outside of the enclosure 12. The lens 18 may be constructed out of clear plastic, glass, Plexiglas, or other transparent material so long as the LCD module 26 can be viewed from outside the enclosure 12. The LCD module 26 may be an active or passive matrix display, may include color, and may pass or block light to provide information for external viewing.

A backlight assembly 20 is provided in the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12. The backlight assembly 20 holds one or more backlights 22. The backlights 22 project light towards the rear of the LCD module 26 so that the LCD module 26 can be properly viewed through the lens 18. In this particular embodiment, the backlights 22 are flourescent light bulbs. When power is provided to the backlights 22, light is projected from the backlights 22 towards the LCD module 26. The LCD module 26, depending on its design, either blocks the light or allows the light to pass through to display information for external viewing in human-perceptible form through the lens 18.

The LCD display 10 also includes a thermal management system for convectively moving and dissipating heat generated by internal components of the LCD display 10, such as the backlights 22 and electronic circuitry (not shown) in the enclosure 12, as well as external heat on the enclosure 12, such as sunlight. Heat generated by these sources raises the ambient air temperature inside the enclosure 12 thereby possibly causing the LCD display 10 to not function properly. Although the backlights 22 are designed to operate at higher temperatures, the heat generated by the backlights may affect the performance of the LCD module 26. For example, if the LCD module 26 is a color module, the color will start to fade as the ambient temperature inside the enclosure 12 increases beyond designed operating temperatures of the LCD module 26.

It may be desirable for a LCD display 10 in an outdoor device to be brighter than would otherwise be required in an indoor device due to light and glare created by sunlight. Increasing the brightness of the backlights 22 causes the backlights 22 to generate more heat and/or the power to the electronic circuitry to be greater. Because the enclosure 12 is environmentally-sealed, heat generated by the backlights 22, the electronic circuitry, and external sources needs to be dissipated outside of the enclosure 12 in order for the LCD module 26 to operate at a lower temperature. For example, some LCD modules 12 may need to be kept at temperatures at or lower than 70 degrees Celsius to operate properly. One solution is to reduce the power to the backlights 22 that in turn lowers the heat generated by the backlights 22, but this also reduces the brightness of the LCD display 10.

The present invention may be used to avoid having to reduce the brightness of the backlights 22. Heat generated by the LCD display 10 may be convectively dissipated in two manners. The LCD display 10 dissipates heat inside the enclosure 12 using one or more heat sinks 24 attached to the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12. The heat sink 24 may contain one or more fins 25 to create greater surface area on the heat sink 24 for dissipation of heat. This heat sink 24 ensures that the internal surface temperature of the enclosure 12 is kept as close to the atmospheric temperature as possible to ensure that the heated air inside the enclosure 12 is absorbed by the enclosure 12. FIG. 1 illustrates the heat dissipated by the heat sink 24 to the atmosphere using arrows pointing upward on the outside of the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12.

Heat generated by the backlights 22 is dissipated through the heat sink 24. The backlight assembly 20 is located against the surface of the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12. In one embodiment, the center of the backlights is approximately 3.25 millimeters from the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12. In this manner, heat generated by the backlights 22 is convectively transferred to the atmosphere, using natural convection. The heat generated by the backlights 22 is transferred to the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12 and to the heat sink 24. The closer the heat sink 24 is to the backlights 22, the faster heat generated by the backlights 22 can be transferred outside of the enclosure 12 thereby reducing the chance of such heat to increase the ambient air inside the enclosure 12.

Heat generated by the backlights 22 that is not immediately dissipated through the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12 and the heat sink 24 causes the ambient air temperature inside the enclosure 12 to rise. Heat generated by electronic circuitry inside the enclosure 12 and any external heat on the enclosure 12, such as sunlight, also causes the ambient air temperature inside the enclosure 12 to rise. To dissipate the heat in the ambient air, thereby cooling the LCD module 26, an airflow path 30 is created around the LCD module 26 by placement of the LCD module 26 between the lens 18 and the backlight assembly 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, the back of the LCD module 26 is placed approximately 12.9 millimeters from the backlights 22 to properly diffuse and evenly backlight the LCD module 26. The front of the LCD module 26 is placed approximately 9.4 millimeters from the lens 18 so that any protrusion on the lens 18 does not damage the LCD module 26. Spacing between the lens 18 and the LCD module 26 also allows air to be routed across the LCD module 26 for thermal management, as discussed below. The LCD module 26 is also placed between the top and bottom of the enclosure 12 in the vertical plane so that air gaps 28A and 28B are formed on the top and bottom of the LCD module 26. In this manner, air is free to flow around the LCD module 26 in a circular fashion, as illustrated by the counter-clockwise airflow arrows moving around the LCD module 26 in FIG. 1.

In order to dissipate heat in the ambient air in the enclosure 12, a fan 32 is placed in the airflow path 30. The fan 32 provides forced convection of the ambient air inside the enclosure 12 to the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12 for dissipation. In one embodiment, the fan 32 is placed at the top of the enclosure 12 above the LCD module 26. During operation, that fan 32 rotates counter-clockwise to create the counter-clockwise circular airflow path 30. The ambient air is routed to the rear of the LCD module 26 and to the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12 for dissipation through the enclosure 12 to the heat sink 24 and to the atmosphere.

The fan 32 may be any type of air movement device that can create the airflow path 30; however, one embodiment of present invention employs a laminar flow fan 32 manufactured by Delta Corporation. An example of such a laminar flow fan 32 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,289 entitled “Cooling axial flow fan with reduced noise levels caused by swept laminar and/or asymmetrically staggered blades,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A laminar flow fan 32 creates a sheet of air, rather than turbulent air, across the LCD module 26. The laminar airflow is more efficient than turbulent airflow for moving air and transferring heat from the front of the LCD module 26 to the rear portion 16 of the enclosure 12. A more efficient fan 32 allows selection of a fan 32 that is smaller in size since it may require less rotations of the fan 32 to move an amount of air desired and/or move the same amount of air in a smaller airflow path 30. Each of these factors contributes to a smaller fan 32 size that in turn contributes to a thinner depth enclosure 12. In one embodiment, the fan 32 operates at approximately 3400 revolutions per minutes (RPM). However, the present invention may use any type of fan 32, including those that generate turbulent air. The fan 32 speed may also be adjusted to move air in the desired manner and efficiency.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a device that incorporates the LCD display 10 known as a “kiosk”34. A kiosk 34 is any type of interactive electronic device that provides an input device, an output device, or both. Kiosks 34 are typically used in retail environments to sell products and/or services to customers. Some common types of kiosk 34 include vending machines, fuel dispensers, automatic teller machines (ATM), and the like. FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a kiosk 34 that includes the LCD display 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 as an output device for displaying information. Soft keys 36 are located on each side of the LCD display 10 as an input device for customer selections; however, an input device may also take others forms, such as a keypad 38, touch screen keys on the LCD display 10 (not shown), card entry device, magnetic or optically encoded cards for example, voice recognition, etc. The LCD display 10 of the present invention is particularly suited for kiosks 34 that are located in outdoor environments where the enclosure 12 of the LCD display 10 is environmentally-sealed. However, the LCD display 10 may be placed in any type of kiosk 34 regardless of whether the kiosk 34 is placed in an outdoor environment.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a communication architecture used for the LCD display 10. The LCD display 10 comprises a display CPU board 40 that contains electronics and software. In this particular embodiment, the display CPU board 40 contains a single display microprocessor 42 and display software 44. The display software 44 contains both volatile memory 46, such as RAM and/or flash memory, and non-volatile memory 48, such as EPROM and/or EEPROM. The display software 44 contains program instructions for the display microprocessor 42 and may also contain information to be displayed on the LCD module 26. The display microprocessor 42 may also manages information received from external sources and controls the operation of the LCD module 26.

In this embodiment, information is communicated from one or more external devices to the display microprocessor 42 to then be displayed on the LCD module 26. A main controller 50 is provided as the interface to the display microprocessor 42. The main controller 50 may be any type of control system, including a point-of-sale system for example. The main controller 50 may be coupled to more than one display microprocessor 42 for managing multiple LCD modules 26. The main controller 50 may also be connected to a local server 56, located in close proximity to the LCD display 10, that sends information to be displayed on the LCD module 26. A remote server 52, located remotely from the LCD display 10, may also be provided to send information to the LCD module 26. The remote server 52 may send information over a network 54 directly to the display microprocessor 42, through the main controller 50, and/or through the local server 56 to be eventually displayed on the LCD module 26. The remote server 52, the local server 56, the main controller 50, and the display microprocessor 42 may be coupled each other through either a wired or wireless connection or network 54 using any type of communication technology, including but not limited to the Internet, serial or parallel bus communication, radio-frequency communication, optical communication, etc.

Examples of Internet information management that may be used with the present invention to send information to a LCD display 10 and/or communicate information entered into a LCD display 10 having a touch screen or other electronic device incorporating an LCD display 10 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,052,629 and 6,176,421 entitled “Internet capable browser dispenser architecture” and “Fuel dispenser architecture having server” respectively, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary outdoor device that may incorporate the LCD display 10 of the present invention known as a “fuel dispenser” 60. A fuel dispenser 60 may also be considered a type of kiosk 34 depending on its configuration and features. The illustrated fuel dispenser 60 contains a LCD display 10 for providing instructions and/or information to a customer at the fuel dispenser 60. The fuel dispenser 60 is comprised of a housing 62 and at least one energy-dispensing outlet, such as a hose 64 and nozzle 66 combination, to deliver fuel to a vehicle (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fuel dispenser 60 may have other input and/or output devices for interaction with a customer, such as price-per-unit of fuel displays 72, soft-keys 36, a receipt printer 68, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) antenna 74, and a cash acceptor 70.

Also note that the LCD display 10 may also be placed external to the fuel dispenser 60 and attached to the fuel dispenser 60 as disclosed in co-pending patent application entitled “Multiple browser interface,” filed on Apr. 23, 2001.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular type of component in the LCD display 10 including, but not limited to the enclosure 12, the lens 18, the backlight 22 and backlight assembly 20, the heat sink 24, the LCD module 26, and the fan 32. Additionally, the LCD display 10 may be used in any type of device having or using a display, including but not limited to a personal computer, a kiosk 34, an elevator, an ATM, and a fuel dispenser 60. Also for the purposes of this application, couple, coupled, or coupling is defined as either a direct connection or a reactive coupling. Reactive coupling is defined as either capacitive or inductive coupling.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are different manners in which these elements can accomplish the present invention. The present invention is intended to cover what is claimed and any equivalents. The specific embodiments used herein are to aid in the understanding of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention in a manner narrower than the claims and their equivalents.

Keep Your CPU Temperature Under Control!
The Xion 5.25-in. Fan controller is equipped with 3 independent thermal sensors that monitor CPU, hard drive and the overall case temperatures. This Xion fan and temperature controller features a large LCD that can display fan speeds and temperature readouts from 0°C to 90°C/ 32°F to 194°F. This stylish accessory is a must for any hardcore gamer. Know what goes on in your case and protect your investment.

Keep Your CPU Temperature Under Control!
The Xion 5.25-in. Fan controller is equipped with 3 independent thermal sensors that monitor CPU, hard drive and the overall case temperatures. This Xion fan and temperature controller features a large LCD that can display fan speeds and temperature readouts from 0°C to 90°C/ 32°F to 194°F. This stylish accessory is a must for any hardcore gamer. Know what goes on in your case and protect your investment.

One of the toughest environments for electronics in general and displays in particular is marine. Sea water is corrosive and needs to be kept well away from the internal electronics. At the same time, devices get exposed to extremes of heat and cold.The display needs to be easily and quickly readable to users in bright sunlight or complete darkness.

Here we look at some specific areas: thermal management, component specification and sunlight readability. Though this combination of requirements is pretty much unique to the marine environment, they are also a feature of most industrial display designs, so this extreme case contains lessons for everyone.

Thermal management needs to be carefully considered with a display that is likely to be exposed to the sun. Fitting a UV resistant overlay and using UV glues will help to reduce heating from the sun, but the electronics themselves will always generate some heat which needs to be eliminated.

A marine or other outdoor system needs to be sealed to IP67, which precludes the use of forced cooling like fans, as well as the provision of apertures. The best solution is to fit a heat sink, though of course this will increase the size and weight of the system.

Unless the heat sink is really massive, some degree of heating is inevitable. The components need to be specified to handle the anticipated maximum temperature. Two parts of a display that are particularly affected are the polarizers and the liquid crystal (LC) fluid itself. Standard polarizers have a temperature range of -20 - +70°C but extended temperature range solutions with -30 - +85°C are available.

With the LC fluid, the specification to look out for is the ‘clearing point’. When the fluid gets too hot, it loses the ability to manipulate light, and goes black. You’ll probably have seen this phenomenon on your smartphone. It reverses itself when you return to a cooler environment. Standard LC fluids have a ‘clearing point’ of 70°C, but for displays where heat is an issue, materials with higher clearing points are available.

The single best measure you can take to improve readability of a display in sunlight (or any other environment) is to use optical bonding between the cover glass and the display. Eliminating internal reflections between the different layers of the display by using glue that is optically matched to the glass improves readability no end. There are other things you can do, for example, increase the brightness of the backlight, but this comes with a penalty: the backlight will draw more power which will reduce battery life and increase the heat generated in the display.

LCD Monitor Course II, which kicks off this session, will address certain points one must know to choose the LCD monitor best-suited to one"s needs from the various models available. Part 1 will focus on color gamut. While wide color gamuts are the latest trend in LCD monitors, color gamut is a term that lends itself to misunderstanding. Our hope is that this session will help users better understand the color gamut of LCD monitors and better select, use, and adjust the products.

Note: Below is the translation from the Japanese of the ITmedia article "IT Media LCD Monitor Course II, Part 1" published on November 11, 2008. Copyright 2011 ITmedia Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A color gamut defines a more specific range of colors from the range of colors identifiable by the human eye (i.e., the visible spectrum). While color imaging devices include a wide range of devices, such as digital cameras, scanners, monitors, and printers, since the range of colors they can reproduce varies, the color gamut is established to make these differences clear and to reconcile the colors that can be used in common between devices.

Various methods are used to express (diagram) the color gamut, but the common method used for display products is the xy chromaticity diagram of the XYZ color system established by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). In an xy chromaticity diagram, the colors of the visible range are represented using numerical figures and graphed as color coordinates. In the following xy chromaticity diagram, the area shaped like an upside-down "U" surrounded by dotted lines indicates the range of colors visible to human beings with the naked eye.

Various standards govern color gamuts. The three standards frequently cited in relation to personal computers are sRGB, Adobe RGB, and NTSC. The color gamut defined by each standard is depicted as a triangle on the xy chromaticity diagram. These triangles show the peak RGB coordinates connected by straight lines. A larger area inside a triangle is regarded to represent a standard capable of displaying more colors. For LCD monitors, this means that a product compatible with a color gamut associated with a larger triangle can reproduce a wider range of colors on screen.

This is a CIE XYZ color system xy chromaticity diagram. The areas enclosed in dotted lines represent the range of colors human beings can see with the naked eye. The ranges corresponding to the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and NTSC standards defining color gamuts appear as triangles connecting their RGB peak coordinates. The color gamut of an LCD monitor"s hardware can be indicated using similar triangles. An LCD monitor is not capable of reproduction (display) of colors outside its color gamut.

The standard color gamut for personal computers is the international sRGB standard prepared in 1998 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). sRGB has established a firm position as the standard in Windows environments. In most cases, products like LCD monitors, printers, digital cameras, and various applications are configured to reproduce the sRGB color gamut as accurately as possible. By ensuring that the devices and applications used in the input and output of image data are sRGB compatible, we can reduce discrepancies in color between input and output.

However, a look at the xy chromaticity diagram shows that the range of colors that can be expressed using sRGB is narrow. In particular, sRGB excludes the range of highly saturated colors. For this reason, as well as the fact that advances in devices such as digital cameras and printers have led to widespread use of devices capable of reproducing colors more vivid than those allowed under the sRGB standard, the Adobe RGB standard and its wider color gamut have recently drawn interest. Adobe RGB is characterized by a broader range than sRGB, particularly in the G domain—that is, by its ability to express more vivid greens.

Adobe RGB was defined in 1998 by Adobe Systems, maker of the well-known Photoshop series of photo-retouching software products. While not an international standard like sRGB, it has become— backed by the high market share of Adobe"s graphics applications—the de facto standard in professional color imaging environments and in the print and publishing industries. Growing numbers of LCD monitors can reproduce most of the Adobe RGB color gamut.

NTSC, the color-gamut standard for analog television, is a color gamut developed by the National Television Standards Committee of the United States. While the range of colors that can be depicted under the NTSC standard is close to that of Adobe RGB, its R and B values differ slightly. The sRGB color gamut covers about 72% of the NTSC gamut. While monitors capable of reproducing the NTSC color gamut are required in places like video production sites, this is less important for individual users or for applications involving still images. sRGB compatibility and the capacity to reproduce the Adobe RGB color gamut are key points of LCD monitors that handle still images.

The visual differences between Adobe RGB (photo at left) and sRGB (photo at right). Converting a photograph in the Adobe RGB color gamut to the sRGB domain results in the loss of highly saturated color data and loss of tonal subtleties (i.e., a susceptibility to color saturation and tone jumping). The Adobe RGB color gamut can reproduce more highly saturated colors than sRGB color. (Note that the actual colors displayed will vary with factors such as the monitor used to view them and the software environment. The sample photographs should be used for reference only.)

In general, the LCD monitors currently available for use with PCs have color gamuts capable of displaying nearly the entire sRGB gamut, thanks to the specifications for their LCD panels (and panel controls). However, given the rising demand mentioned above for reproducing color gamuts broader than sRGB, recent models have expanded the color gamuts of LCD monitors, with Adobe RGB serving as one target. But how is such expansion of LCD monitor color gamuts taking place?

Improvements in backlights account for a significant proportion of the technologies expanding the color gamuts of LCD monitors. There are two major approaches to doing this: one involves expanding the color gamut of cold cathodes, the mainstream backlight technology; the other involves RGB LED backlights.

On the subject of color-gamut expansion using cold cathodes, while strengthening the LCD panel"s color filter is a quick fix, this also lowers screen luminance by decreasing light transmissivity. Increasing the luminance of the cold cathode to counter this effect tends to shorten the life of the device and often results in lighting irregularities. Efforts to date have overcome these drawbacks to a large extent; many LCD monitors feature cold cathodes with wide color gamuts resulting from modification of their phosphors. This generates cost benefits as well, since it makes it possible to expand the color gamut without major changes in the existing structure.

Use of RGB LED backlights has increased relatively recently. These backlights make it possible to achieve higher levels of luminance and purity of color than cold cathodes. Despite certain disadvantages, including lower color stability (i.e., radiant-heat problems) than a cold cathode and difficulty in attaining a uniform white color across the entire screen, since it involves a mixture of RGB LEDs, these weaknesses have been resolved for the most part. RGB LED backlights cost more than cold-cathode backlights and are currently used in a fairly small proportion of LCD monitors. However, based on their efficacy in expanding color gamuts, the number of LCD monitors incorporating the technology will likely increase. This is also true for LCD televisions.

In passing, many LCD monitors that extol wide color gamuts promote the area ratios of specific color gamuts (i.e., triangles on the xy chromaticity diagram). Many of us have probably have seen indications of attributes such as Adobe RGB rates and NTSC rates in product catalogs.

However, these are only area ratios. Very few products include the entire Adobe RGB and NTSC color gamuts. Even if a monitor featured a 120% Adobe RGB ratio, it would remain impossible to determine the extent of the difference in RGB values between the LCD monitor"s color gamut and the Adobe RGB color gamut. Since such statements lend themselves to misinterpretation, it is important to avoid being confused by product specifications.

To eliminate problems involving labeled specifications, some manufacturers use the expression "coverage" in place of "area." Clearly, for example, an LCD monitor labeled as having Adobe RGB coverage of 95% can reproduce 95% of the Adobe RGB color gamut.

From the user"s perspective, coverage is a more user-friendly, easier-to-understand type of labeling than surface ratio. While switching all labeling to coverage presents difficulties, showing in xy chromaticity diagrams the color gamuts of LCD monitors to be used in color management will certainly make it easier for users to form their own judgments.

With regard to the difference between area labeling and coverage labeling as gauges of an LCD monitor"s color gamut, to use Adobe RGB as an example, in many cases, even a monitor with an Adobe RGB ratio of 100% in terms of area will feature coverage of less than 100 percent. Since coverage impacts practical use, one must avoid the mistake of seeing a higher fig