WO2008085138A1

WO2008085138A1 - Outdoor display

Info

Publication number: WO2008085138A1
Application number: PCT/SI2008/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leopold Pungercar
Original assignee: Leopold Pungercar
Priority date: 2007-01-10
Filing date: 2008-01-07
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: SI22142A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a luminous outdoor display assembly of preferably larger dimensions for displaying informational or advertisement messages, the said assembly ensuring reliable operation of the display by stabilizing the temperature of the vital elements thereof. The display is preferably of the type of LCD screens, plasma screens, projectors, and the like. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior-art solutions by employing a preferably double or, alternatively, single insulated housing, allowing displays to be used outdoors in any weather conditions, and employing Peltier modules (or alternatively an external source of ground-cooled cool air and an electric heater) for cooling down and heating up the atmosphere inside the outdoor display, thus occupying substantially less space than an evaporator/compressor system and also consuming less electrical energy.

Description

Outdoor Display

The present invention relates to a luminous outdoor display assembly of preferably larger dimensions for displaying informational or advertisement messages, the said assembly ensuring reliable operation of the display by stabilizing the temperature of the vital elements thereof. The display is preferably of the type of LCD screens, plasma screens, projectors, and the like.

The present invention relates to an outdoor display having :

(i) a double housing, with a computer and a Peltier module built in, (ii) a double housing, with an inbuilt computer, and an external source of cooled air, (iii) a double housing, with an inbuilt Peltier module, and an external computer, (iv) a double housing, with an external computer and an external source of cooled air, (v) a housing with a computer and a Peltier module built in, (vi) a housing with an inbuilt computer, and an external source of cooled air, (vii) a housing with an inbuilt Peltier module, and an external computer; and

(viii) a housing with an external computer and an external source of cooled air.

Prior-art displays comprising LCD screens, plasma screens, projectors and the like generate heat and may get excessively hot, or, in very cold environments, excessively cold, both of which result in unreliable operation and malfunction .

Prior-art displays which are cooled or heated by means of Peltier technology are unsuitable for outdoor use, having no resistance against various weather conditions. Regular heating/cooling systems utilizing an evaporator and a compressor, on the other hand, use up too much space and electrical energy, and additionally require the air within the housing to be dried in order to prevent the formation of dew/condensation on the glass and on the surface of the inbuilt display, such as a LCD screen, a plasma screen, a projector, and the like.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior-art solutions by employing a preferably double or, alternatively, single insulated housing, allowing displays to be used outdoors in any weather conditions, and preferably employing Peltier modules (or alternatively an external source of cooled air and an electric heater) for cooling down and heating up the atmosphere inside the outdoor display, thus occupying substantially less space than an evaporator/compressor system and also consuming less electrical energy. The condensation problem is overcome by not allowing the external air to permeate the atmosphere wherein the screen, projector and the like is mounted: in embodiments

(i) , (ii), (iii) and (iv) , the said display is enclosed in an additional internal housing, whereas in embodiments (v) , (vi) ,

(vii) and (viii) the external air does not enter into the main housing. The inventive outdoor display allows display devices of larger dimensions to be used outdoors, regardless of the weather conditions.

The invention may be utilized in several embodiments: Outdoor display with a double housing, wherein the air inside the inner housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a computer and a power/control unit built in the inner housing, and a Peltier module built on the inner housing;

Outdoor display with a double housing, wherein the air inside the inner housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a computer and a power/control unit built in the inner housing. The cooled environmental air (cooled in the ground) is conveyed via a tube into the inner housing. The housing is heated by an electric heater;

Outdoor display with a double housing, wherein the air inside the inner housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a Peltier module built on the inner housing, and a power/control unit built in the inner housing. The computer is located outside of the housing;

Outdoor display with a double housing, wherein the air inside the inner housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a power/control unit built in the inner housing. The computer is located outside of the housing. The cooled environmental air (cooled in the ground) is conveyed via a tube into the inner housing. The housing is heated by an electric heater; Outdoor display with a single housing, wherein the air inside the housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a computer and a power/control unit built in the housing, and a (damp-proof) Peltier module built on the housing;

Outdoor display with a single housing, wherein the air inside the housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a computer and a power/control unit built in the housing. The cooled environmental air (cooled in the ground) is conveyed via a tube into the - A - inner housing. The housing is heated by an electric heater;

Outdoor display with a single housing, wherein the air inside the housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a (damp-proof) Peltier module built on the housing, and a power/control unit built in the housing. The computer is located outside of the housing;

Outdoor display with a single housing, wherein the air inside the housing is not exchanged with the environmental air, having a power/control unit built in the housing. The computer is located outside of the housing. The cooled environmental air (cooled in the ground) is conveyed via a tube into the inner housing.

The housing is heated by an electric heater.

The invention shall hereinafter be described with reference to the principal/preferred embodiment and seven alternative embodiments thereof, as illustrated by the appended drawings, wherein the outdoor display is viewed from the back:

Figure 1 represents the principal/preferred embodiment of the outdoor display.

Figures 2 to 8 represent seven alternative embodiments of the outdoor display of Figure 1.

In all eight of the appended drawings, any specific numeral always designates the same specific element of the outdoor display.

The basic part of the outdoor display consists of the main housing 1, on the front side whereof a glass 19 is mounted, a display device 18 being situated behind the said glass 19. A camera 15 is located at the top of the said main housing, at the lateral sides thereof speakers 20 and a burglary-resistant alarm device 10 are mounted, while at the bottom there is a mounting device 5.

In the first embodiment of the outdoor display, an inner housing 2 is situated within the main housing 1, in which inner housing 2 there are located: a display device 18, a computer 11, a power/control unit 12, inner housing fans 16, dessicant means 8, and a gauge 17 for measuring the atmospheric temperature inside the inner housing. One or more Peltier modules 9 are fixed to the inner housing 2 both for cooling and for heating the atmosphere inside the inner housing 2 as needed. To the outer housing 1, there are fixed: two fans 3 and 4 for exchanging the air with the environment, fans 7 for circulating the air around the inner housing 2, an air barrier 6 for correct air circulation, temperature gauges 14, and, on the outside, electrical and internet connections 13.

The second embodiment differs from the first in that there is no Peltier module 9, and in that the cool air is conveyed via the tube 21 into the main housing 1. The air inside the main housing 1 is heated by means of an electric heater 23 as required.

The third embodiment differs from the first in that the computer 11 is located outside of the main housing 1. It is connected to the display unit 18 inside the inner housing 2 via a data cable .

The fourth embodiment differs from the first in that there is no Peltier module 9, and in that the computer 11 is located outside of the main housing 1. The cool air is conveyed via the tube 21 into the main housing 1. The air inside the main housing 1 is heated by means of an electric heater 23 as required. The computer 11 is connected to the display unit 18 inside the inner housing 2 via a data cable. The fifth embodiment differs from the first in that there is only a single housing, namely the main housing 1. There is no exchange of air with the environment. The Peltier module 9 is located on the main housing 1. The computer 11 and the power/control/security unit 12 are located inside the main housing 1, and so are the display unit 18 and the dessicant means 8. There is no air barrier 6 inside the housing 1.

The sixth embodiment differs from the first in that there is only a single housing, namely the main housing 1. There is no exchange of air with the environment and no inbuilt Peltier module; the cool air is conveyed into and, once heated, out of the main housing via the tubes 22. The computer 11 and the power/control/security unit 12 are located inside the main housing 1, as are the display unit 18 and the dessicant means 8. There is no air barrier 6 inside the housing 1.

The seventh embodiment differs from the first in that there is only a single housing, namely the main housing 1. There is no exchange of air with the environment. The Peltier module 9 is located on the main housing 1. The computer 11 is situated outside of the main housing 1. It is connected to the display unit 18 via a data cable. The power/control/security unit 12 is located inside the main housing 1, as are the display unit 18 and the dessicant means 8. There is no air barrier 6 inside the housing.

The eighth embodiment differs from the first in that there is only a single housing, namely the main housing 1. There is no exchange of air with the environment and no inbuilt Peltier module; the cool air is conveyed into and, once heated, out of the main housing via the tubes 22. The computer 11 is located outside of the main housing 1. It is connected to the display unit 18 via a data cable. The power/control/security unit 12 is located inside the main housing 1, as are the display unit 18 and the dessicant means 8. There is no air barrier 6 inside the housing 1.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A luminous outdoor display of preferably larger dimensions for displaying informational or advertisement messages that ensures reliable operation by stabilizing the temperature of the vital elements thereof, the said display being preferably of the type of LCD screens, plasma screens, projectors, and the like, characterized in that within the main insulated housing (1) there is an inner housing (2), wherein there are located: a display device (18) and, alternatively, a computer (11), a power/control unit (12), inner housing fans (16), dessicant means (8), and a gauge (17) for measuring the atmospheric temperature inside the inner housing, there being one or more Peltier modules (9) preferably mounted on the main insulated housing (1) or on the inner housing (2), which Peltier modules cool or, respectively, heat the inner housing (2) atmosphere as required, the air within the inner housing (2) being alternatively cooled by an external source (21) of cooled air and, respectively, heated by an electric heater (23), there being two fans (3) and (4) for exchanging the air with the environment additionally fixed to the outer housing (1), as well as fans (7) for circulating the air around the inner housing (2), an air barrier (6) for correct air circulation, temperature gauges (14), and, on the outside, electrical and internet connections (13).

2. A luminous outdoor display of preferably larger dimensions for displaying informational or advertisement messages that ensures reliable operation by stabilizing the temperature of the vital elements thereof, the said display being preferably of the type of LCD screens, plasma screens, projectors, and the like, characterized in that there is only a single housing, namely the main insulated housing (1), there being no exchange of air with the environment, and the Peltier module (9) is located on the main insulated housing (1), or, alternatively, the air within the main insulated housing (1) is cooled by an external source

(22) of cooled air and, respectively, heated by an electric heater (23), the computer (11) being located either inside or outside of the main housing (1), while the power/control/security unit (12), the display unit

(18) and the dessicant means (8) are located inside the main housing (1), there being no air barrier (6) inside the housing (1) .