WO2014006490A1 - Display module and structure with such module - Google Patents

Display module and structure with such module Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014006490A1
WO2014006490A1 PCT/IB2013/001458 IB2013001458W WO2014006490A1 WO 2014006490 A1 WO2014006490 A1 WO 2014006490A1 IB 2013001458 W IB2013001458 W IB 2013001458W WO 2014006490 A1 WO2014006490 A1 WO 2014006490A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
display module
module according
transparent
display
display panel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2013/001458
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Irina Kiryuschev
Zeev Kurlianchick
Original Assignee
Kraslex Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kraslex Ltd. filed Critical Kraslex Ltd.
Priority to EP13813582.7A priority Critical patent/EP2870596A4/en
Publication of WO2014006490A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014006490A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0081—Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
    • G02B6/0095—Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G09F19/227—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated on windows
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/18—Edge-illuminated signs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G09F19/226—External wall display means; Facade advertising means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • G09F19/228—Ground signs, i.e. display signs fixed on the ground
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
    • G09F23/0058—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/33—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/33—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
    • G09F9/335—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes being organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/35—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
    • G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
    • G02B6/004—Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles
    • G02B6/0043—Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles provided on the surface of the light guide
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/18—Edge-illuminated signs
    • G09F2013/184—Information to display
    • G09F2013/1854—Light diffusing layer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
    • G09F13/22—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent
    • G09F2013/222—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent with LEDs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
    • G09F2023/0025—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on containers
    • G09F2023/0033—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on containers on refrigerated containers

Definitions

  • the presently disclosed subject matter refers to transparent members such as pane, a window, a shop widow, a door, a wall, a ceiling, a floor, etc., having a display module for image producing incorporated therein.
  • US Patent No. 7,109,959 discloses a window with a display held by its frame.
  • WO2012/057457 discloses a construction of transparent display module incorporated in a door of a refrigerator. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER
  • a display module comprising a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller.
  • the transparent member may have a greater surface area than the display panel.
  • the display module could comprise at least one non-transparent area, this non- transparent area could form a frame of the display module.
  • Such non-transparent area could be formed by coating with non-transparent material or non-transparent member.
  • the display module could comprise an additional transparent member and the display panel could be accommodated between the transparent members.
  • the lighting module is mounted on the additional transparent member.
  • the display module could comprise a sealing and spacing arrangement sealingly fixing the transparent member to each other along their periphery at spaced apart relationship, thereby forming a transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding.
  • the display module could be provided by a lighting module.
  • the lighting module could include an optically clear waveguide and an edge-lit light source.
  • the waveguide could be further provided by a diffusing layer with diffusing zones e.g. including spots, lines or printed dotes.
  • diffusing layer has a greater surface area than the diffusing zones.
  • the diffusing zones cover about 5 - 10 % of the diffusing layer area.
  • the size of the printed dots and distances therebetween could be chosen to minimize Moire effect caused by superposition of the pattern of printed dots and pattern of display pixels.
  • the cable can provide transmitting high speed digital video signals corresponding to video interface standards for connecting an output of a graphic processing unit of the external controller to the driving unit of at least one said display panel. It could be a low voltage differential signaling cable (LVDS).
  • LVDS low voltage differential signaling cable
  • a structure comprising a display module comprising a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, at least one display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller, wherein said display module configured to constitute at least one of the following a pane, a window, a shop widow, a door, a wall, a ceiling, a floor of the structure.
  • Such a structure can constitutes a showcase having a main body, an opening at least one side of the main body and a storage chamber.
  • the storage chamber can be provided by illuminating assembly capable to provide substantially high brightness background.
  • a level of illumination can be of 6 - 10 times stronger than the level of illumination outside said showcase.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of a display box or showcase refrigerator, with a door in which modules in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter can be mounted;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the door of display box or showcase refrigerator formed by display module;
  • FIG. 3 are schematic views of display module;
  • FIG. 4 are views of double glazed unit with display module;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view of display module assembled into the door of a show case refrigerator
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of illuminating module of display module
  • FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of illuminating module in accordance with additional aspect of the present invention
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate examples of diffusing zones of illuminating module
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic cross section view of construction combining display module and illuminating module.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrate an example of a structure, e.g. display box or showcase refrigerator 2, with a door in which modules 1 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter is mounted.
  • Showcase refrigerator 2 enables storage of goods G, e.g. beverages, food, etc. inside and a storage chamber 3 of main body 4 visible through transparent door while static or changeable visual or textual information I is displaying with module(s) 1 that may attract potential consumer attention.
  • display module 1 is forming a pane of a door 5 of showcase.
  • Door 5 is further provided by two hinges 6 for mounting on main body of showcase and forming rotation axes for opening the door.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates one example of display module 1 formed by transparent member 7, at least one substantially transparent display panel 8 fixedly mounted together.
  • Display panel further provided by a display driving unit 9 connectable by a cable 10 to an external controller 1 1 .
  • Display driving unit 9 is operable to drive display panel 8 in response to the drive command from external controller 1 1 to create textual and/or pictorial information on display module 1 .
  • transparent member 7 has a greater surface area than the display panel 8.
  • Display panel 8 can be standard OLED panel, LCD panel (comprising glass substrates with TFT and electrodes matrix, liquid crystal, and two polarizing films) or any other type of panel that can be substantially transparent (while operating or non-operating).
  • Display module 1 (Figs. 4, 5) can be further provided by non-transparent area(s) 12 forming e.g. a closed frame in the present example. It is clear, that non- transparent area 12 could be of any desired shape, e.g. in the form of open frame, border or strip associated with one or more edges of display module 1. Non-transparent areas on different sides of display module 1 may have different width, for example at the side where the driving unit 9 is located non-transparent area is wider than at the opposite or other side display module 1 in order to hide driving unit 9 and connecting cables.
  • Non-transparent area(s) or frame 12 may be made by coating (for example printed, painted) or by gluing of non-transparent member, e.g. plastic film in appropriate areas of transparent member 7. Mounting of display panel 8 on transparent member 7 provides mechanical protection of display panel, enables to minimize size of non-transparent area.
  • display module 1 may comprise an additional
  • Transparent members 7 and 7' with spacers 13 and appropriate sealing (not shown) forms double glazed structure with transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding.
  • the advantages of assembling display panel 8 inside sealed double glazed structure are: - The transparent display panel 8 and driving unit 9 are mechanically protected and don't require additional packaging means.
  • the transparent display panel 8 and driving unit 9 are protected from the water condensing when the refrigerator door is open, caused by temperature difference between temperature of the door and outside air temperature, which happens when the transparent display panel is installed inside the refrigerator behind the glass door.
  • Transparent member 7 and or 7' may be made of any transparent material e.g. glass or plastic of appropriate shape.
  • Signal cable 10 with connector 10' is used for connection of the display module to external controller 1 1 .
  • the signal cable should be long enough, for example to have a length 1 - 2 meters to reach external controller 1 1 .
  • Signal cable 10 provides transmitting high speed digital video signals corresponding to video interface standards for connecting an output of a graphic processing unit of the external controller 1 1 to driving unit 9 of at least one said. display panel 8.
  • Signal cable 10 can be so-called LVDS (low voltage differential signaling) cable.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates structure, e.g. refrigerator 2'having display module 1 configured to constitute a pane of the refrigerator door instead of a regular double glazed unit.
  • Display module 1 can be installed within metal (e.g. aluminum) frame 14 forming the door.
  • Signal cable 10 can be hidden inside the frame 14 and pass through a hole (not shown) in top hinge 6. Hole can be located in the area of the axis of rotation of door.
  • external controller 1 1 is located on the top surface of the show case refrigerator 2.
  • External controller 1 1 typically includes a controller to receive and to process data and to form commands to driving unit 9 of at least one said display panel 8.
  • the thickness of display module 1 can be reduced.
  • Standard electronic control boards of TVs (LCD) of any shape may be used.
  • controller placed outside the module is still accessible and standard interface like USB, HDMI connectors or slots for memory cards may be used for data exchange. Power dissipation of display module itself is much smaller without controller and sealing doesn't cause overheating problems.
  • LCD panel In case when LCD panel is used in display module 1 , it could provide good visibility of the goods behind thereof along with video playing only when the space behind it is not dark and illuminated enough.
  • white or silver background can be used inside storage chamber 3 (FIG. 1 ) and additionally, illuminating assembly capable to provide substantially high brightness
  • the transparency of LCD panel usually is less than 15%.
  • the level of illumination behind the LCD, inside the show case, should be in that case 6-10 times more than the level of illumination outside the show case. It may be a case that goods displayed behind display module 1 are located too close to display module 1 or are too dark. To enhance the illumination of the goods, located close to display module 1 , and to add white background to the image on display module 1 , a transparent lighting module 15 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be used.
  • Transparent lighting module 15 can include optically clear waveguide 16 made for example from acrylic, polycarbonate or glass, having two surfaces 17 and 18, an edge-lit light source 19, for example smd LED strip, positioned at the edge of wave guide 16, and a diffusing layer (light scattering) 20 having shape of for example spots or lines and being in optical contact with one of the surfaces (17, 18) of waveguide16.
  • diffusing layer 20 can be mounted on the front-facing surface 18 of waveguide16.
  • the first purpose of diffusing layer 20 is to break down the total internal reflection in the waveguide 16 and to distribute light generally uniformly from its
  • the second purpose of diffusing layer (light scattering) 20 is to form zones of white background to the image displayed on display panel 8.
  • light diffusing layer 20 can be made of diffusing material. It can be formed by printing, using white diffusing ink ("paint dots"), treatment of the surface 18 by chemical or laser etching, and V-groove processes, or optical coupling to film with white diffusing spots arrays.
  • the total area of diffusing zones of diffusing layer 20 may be less than non-treated area to keep waveguide transparency to the observer 21 , to provide eye-catching visual effects of seeing real objects together with changeable visual and/or textual information on display panel 8.
  • the total area of diffusing zones of diffusing layer 20 formed by printed dots may be in the range 5 - 10 % of total area of surface 18.
  • Size of printed dots and/or distance between them may be gradually changed along the surface depending of placement of light sources to provide uniformity of both light intensity in the direction to the object and visual uniformity of brightness of white diffusing spots which serve as display panel 8 (in case of LCD) backlight.
  • Size of printed dots can be in the range of 0.05 - 1 mm.
  • Regular matrix of dots (as shown in Fig.9A) being placed behind display panel 8, e.g. LCD and regular structure of LCD pixels may cause Moire effect. Size of the dots and distances between them can be chosen to minimize this effect.
  • the size of the dots can be approximately equal to the size of the RGB pixel.
  • every dot being placed behind LCD will correspond to three sub-pixels: one red, one green, and one blue.
  • the size of the dots may be chosen also smaller then the width of sub-pixel, for example for the 42" high definition LCD panel the size of the dots may be 0.05 mm, distance between dots 0.2 mm while size of the color sub-pixel is about 0.125 * 0.5 mm. Such distance between dots will be below the resolution of the human eye for viewing from 1 -2 meters. In this case the dots structure will be practically invisible. Randomness of the dots may be also or in addition used to avoid Moire effect (see Fig. 8B).
  • lighting module 15 may be placed outside of the glazed structure of display module 1 or may be sealed inside display module 1 .
  • protection from evaporated water, dust, dirt, fingerprints which cause spots, can be additionally provided.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)

Abstract

A display module is provided comprising: a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller.

Description

DISPLAY MODULE AND STRUCTURE WITH SUCH MODULE TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
The presently disclosed subject matter refers to transparent members such as pane, a window, a shop widow, a door, a wall, a ceiling, a floor, etc., having a display module for image producing incorporated therein.
PRIOR ART
US Patent No. 7,109,959 discloses a window with a display held by its frame.
WO2012/057457 discloses a construction of transparent display module incorporated in a door of a refrigerator. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER
In accordance with one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a display module comprising a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller.
In accordance with a further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the transparent member may have a greater surface area than the display panel.
In accordance with a further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the display module could comprise at least one non-transparent area, this non- transparent area could form a frame of the display module. Such non-transparent area could be formed by coating with non-transparent material or non-transparent member. In accordance with a still another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the display module could comprise an additional transparent member and the display panel could be accommodated between the transparent members.
In accordance with a still another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the lighting module is mounted on the additional transparent member.
The display module could comprise a sealing and spacing arrangement sealingly fixing the transparent member to each other along their periphery at spaced apart relationship, thereby forming a transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding. The display module could be provided by a lighting module. The lighting module could include an optically clear waveguide and an edge-lit light source. The waveguide could be further provided by a diffusing layer with diffusing zones e.g. including spots, lines or printed dotes.
Preferably, diffusing layer has a greater surface area than the diffusing zones. In accordance with a still another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the diffusing zones cover about 5 - 10 % of the diffusing layer area.
The size of the printed dots and distances therebetween could be chosen to minimize Moire effect caused by superposition of the pattern of printed dots and pattern of display pixels. The cable can provide transmitting high speed digital video signals corresponding to video interface standards for connecting an output of a graphic processing unit of the external controller to the driving unit of at least one said display panel. It could be a low voltage differential signaling cable (LVDS).
In accordance with another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there can be provided a structure comprising a display module comprising a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, at least one display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller, wherein said display module configured to constitute at least one of the following a pane, a window, a shop widow, a door, a wall, a ceiling, a floor of the structure.
Such a structure can constitutes a showcase having a main body, an opening at least one side of the main body and a storage chamber.
The storage chamber can be provided by illuminating assembly capable to provide substantially high brightness background. A level of illumination can be of 6 - 10 times stronger than the level of illumination outside said showcase.
Further features of the module and structure described above are presented in the detailed description and claims of the application.
BRIEF DESCRIPION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be implemented in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows an example of a display box or showcase refrigerator, with a door in which modules in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter can be mounted;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the door of display box or showcase refrigerator formed by display module; FIG. 3 are schematic views of display module; FIG. 4 are views of double glazed unit with display module;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of display module assembled into the door of a show case refrigerator;
FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of illuminating module of display module; FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of illuminating module in accordance with additional aspect of the present invention;
FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate examples of diffusing zones of illuminating module, and
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross section view of construction combining display module and illuminating module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically illustrate an example of a structure, e.g. display box or showcase refrigerator 2, with a door in which modules 1 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter is mounted.
Showcase refrigerator 2 enables storage of goods G, e.g. beverages, food, etc. inside and a storage chamber 3 of main body 4 visible through transparent door while static or changeable visual or textual information I is displaying with module(s) 1 that may attract potential consumer attention. As further shown in Fig. 2 display module 1 is forming a pane of a door 5 of showcase. Door 5 is further provided by two hinges 6 for mounting on main body of showcase and forming rotation axes for opening the door.
Fig. 3 illustrates one example of display module 1 formed by transparent member 7, at least one substantially transparent display panel 8 fixedly mounted together. Display panel further provided by a display driving unit 9 connectable by a cable 10 to an external controller 1 1 . Display driving unit 9 is operable to drive display panel 8 in response to the drive command from external controller 1 1 to create textual and/or pictorial information on display module 1 . Preferably, transparent member 7 has a greater surface area than the display panel 8. Display panel 8 can be standard OLED panel, LCD panel (comprising glass substrates with TFT and electrodes matrix, liquid crystal, and two polarizing films) or any other type of panel that can be substantially transparent (while operating or non-operating).
Display module 1 (Figs. 4, 5) can be further provided by non-transparent area(s) 12 forming e.g. a closed frame in the present example. It is clear, that non- transparent area 12 could be of any desired shape, e.g. in the form of open frame, border or strip associated with one or more edges of display module 1. Non-transparent areas on different sides of display module 1 may have different width, for example at the side where the driving unit 9 is located non-transparent area is wider than at the opposite or other side display module 1 in order to hide driving unit 9 and connecting cables.
Non-transparent area(s) or frame 12 may be made by coating (for example printed, painted) or by gluing of non-transparent member, e.g. plastic film in appropriate areas of transparent member 7. Mounting of display panel 8 on transparent member 7 provides mechanical protection of display panel, enables to minimize size of non-transparent area.
As further seen in Fig. 4 display module 1 may comprise an additional
transparent member 7' and display panel 8 is accommodated between
transparent members 7 and 7'. Transparent members 7 and 7' with spacers 13 and appropriate sealing (not shown) forms double glazed structure with transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding. The advantages of assembling display panel 8 inside sealed double glazed structure are: - The transparent display panel 8 and driving unit 9 are mechanically protected and don't require additional packaging means.
- The transparent display panel 8 and driving unit 9 are protected from the water condensing when the refrigerator door is open, caused by temperature difference between temperature of the door and outside air temperature, which happens when the transparent display panel is installed inside the refrigerator behind the glass door.
- Display module 8 sealed into double glazed structure is perfectly
waterproofed, allowing outdoor using of the device.
- Sealed double glazed structures normally are used in the doors of show case refrigerators to provide thermal insulation and avoid water condensing on the transparent glass.
Transparent member 7 and or 7' may be made of any transparent material e.g. glass or plastic of appropriate shape. Signal cable 10 with connector 10', is used for connection of the display module to external controller 1 1 . The signal cable should be long enough, for example to have a length 1 - 2 meters to reach external controller 1 1 . Signal cable 10 provides transmitting high speed digital video signals corresponding to video interface standards for connecting an output of a graphic processing unit of the external controller 1 1 to driving unit 9 of at least one said. display panel 8. Signal cable 10 can be so-called LVDS (low voltage differential signaling) cable.
Fig. 5 illustrates structure, e.g. refrigerator 2'having display module 1 configured to constitute a pane of the refrigerator door instead of a regular double glazed unit. Display module 1 can be installed within metal (e.g. aluminum) frame 14 forming the door. Signal cable 10 can be hidden inside the frame 14 and pass through a hole (not shown) in top hinge 6. Hole can be located in the area of the axis of rotation of door. As further shown in the Fig. 5 external controller 1 1 is located on the top surface of the show case refrigerator 2. External controller 1 1 typically includes a controller to receive and to process data and to form commands to driving unit 9 of at least one said display panel 8. Controller 1 1 may include additional or integrated communication unit to receive data, for example WiFi or 3G communication unit, TV tuner, connectors like USB or HDMI connectors or slots for memory cards. The following advantage of such a design when the display module 1 is separated from controller 1 1 and connected to controller 1 1 by long enough signal cable 10 can be provided:
Less space on the frame is needed for electronic boards and narrow frame can be used.
The thickness of display module 1 can be reduced.
Standard electronic control boards of TVs (LCD) of any shape may be used.
In the case of sealing of the display module, controller placed outside the module is still accessible and standard interface like USB, HDMI connectors or slots for memory cards may be used for data exchange. Power dissipation of display module itself is much smaller without controller and sealing doesn't cause overheating problems.
In case when LCD panel is used in display module 1 , it could provide good visibility of the goods behind thereof along with video playing only when the space behind it is not dark and illuminated enough. To this end, white or silver background can be used inside storage chamber 3 (FIG. 1 ) and additionally, illuminating assembly capable to provide substantially high brightness
background could be used.
The transparency of LCD panel usually is less than 15%. The level of illumination behind the LCD, inside the show case, should be in that case 6-10 times more than the level of illumination outside the show case. It may be a case that goods displayed behind display module 1 are located too close to display module 1 or are too dark. To enhance the illumination of the goods, located close to display module 1 , and to add white background to the image on display module 1 , a transparent lighting module 15 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be used. Transparent lighting module 15 can include optically clear waveguide 16 made for example from acrylic, polycarbonate or glass, having two surfaces 17 and 18, an edge-lit light source 19, for example smd LED strip, positioned at the edge of wave guide 16, and a diffusing layer (light scattering) 20 having shape of for example spots or lines and being in optical contact with one of the surfaces (17, 18) of waveguide16. Preferably, diffusing layer 20 can be mounted on the front-facing surface 18 of waveguide16.
The first purpose of diffusing layer 20 is to break down the total internal reflection in the waveguide 16 and to distribute light generally uniformly from its
concentration as emitted from the light source 19 and re-direct to the object (goods) G located behind display module 1 , providing sufficient illuminating of the object G.
The second purpose of diffusing layer (light scattering) 20 is to form zones of white background to the image displayed on display panel 8. For this purpose, light diffusing layer 20 can be made of diffusing material. It can be formed by printing, using white diffusing ink ("paint dots"), treatment of the surface 18 by chemical or laser etching, and V-groove processes, or optical coupling to film with white diffusing spots arrays. The total area of diffusing zones of diffusing layer 20 may be less than non-treated area to keep waveguide transparency to the observer 21 , to provide eye-catching visual effects of seeing real objects together with changeable visual and/or textual information on display panel 8. For example, the total area of diffusing zones of diffusing layer 20 formed by printed dots may be in the range 5 - 10 % of total area of surface 18. Size of printed dots and/or distance between them may be gradually changed along the surface depending of placement of light sources to provide uniformity of both light intensity in the direction to the object and visual uniformity of brightness of white diffusing spots which serve as display panel 8 (in case of LCD) backlight. Size of printed dots can be in the range of 0.05 - 1 mm. Regular matrix of dots (as shown in Fig.9A) being placed behind display panel 8, e.g. LCD and regular structure of LCD pixels may cause Moire effect. Size of the dots and distances between them can be chosen to minimize this effect. For example the size of the dots can be approximately equal to the size of the RGB pixel. In this case every dot being placed behind LCD will correspond to three sub-pixels: one red, one green, and one blue. The size of the dots may be chosen also smaller then the width of sub-pixel, for example for the 42" high definition LCD panel the size of the dots may be 0.05 mm, distance between dots 0.2 mm while size of the color sub-pixel is about 0.125*0.5 mm. Such distance between dots will be below the resolution of the human eye for viewing from 1 -2 meters. In this case the dots structure will be practically invisible. Randomness of the dots may be also or in addition used to avoid Moire effect (see Fig. 8B).
As shown at Fig.9, lighting module 15 may be placed outside of the glazed structure of display module 1 or may be sealed inside display module 1 . In the first case protection from evaporated water, dust, dirt, fingerprints which cause spots, can be additionally provided.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A display module comprising: a transparent member and at least one substantially transparent display panel fixedly mounted together, said at least one display panel provided by a display driving unit connectable by a cable to an external controller and operable to drive said at least one display panel in response to the drive command from said external controller.
2. The display module according to claim 1 wherein the transparent member has a greater surface area than the display panel.
3. The display module according to claim 1 further comprising at least one non-transparent area.
4. The display module according to claim 3 wherein said non-transparent area is formed on said transparent member by coating with non- transparent material.
5. The display module according to claim 3 wherein said at least one non- transparent area is formed by non-transparent member.
6. The display module according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an additional transparent member and said display panel is accommodated between the transparent members.
7. The display module according to claim 6 further comprising a sealing and spacing arrangement sealingly fixing the transparent member to each other along their periphery at spaced apart relationship, thereby forming a transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding.
8. The display module according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a lighting module.
9. The display module according to claim 8 wherein said lighting module
includes an optically clear waveguide and an edge-lit light source.
10. The display module according to claim 9 wherein said lighting module is mounted on the said additional transparent member
1 1. The display module according to claim 9 wherein said waveguide, comprising a diffusing layer with diffusing zones.
12. The display module according to claim 1 wherein said diffusing zones formed by spots or lines.
13. The display module according to claims 1 1 wherein said diffusing zones formed by printed dotes.
14. The display module according to any one of claims 10, 12 and 13 wherein said diffusing layer has a greater surface area than the diffusing zones.
15. The display module according to claim 14 wherein said diffusing zones cover about 5 - 10 % of the diffusing layer area.
16. The display module according to any one of claims 13, 14 and 15 wherein size of said printed dots and distances therebetween is chosen to minimize Moire effect caused by superposition of the pattern of printed dots and pattern of display pixels.
17. The display module according to claim 1 wherein said cable provides
transmitting high speed digital video signals corresponding to video interface standards for connecting an output of a graphic processing unit of the external controller to the driving unit of at least one said display panel.
18. The display module according to claim 17 wherein said cable is a low
voltage differential signaling cable.
19. A structure comprising a display module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said display module configured to constitute at least one of the following a pane, a window, a shop widow a vitrine, a door, a. wall, a ceiling, a floor of the structure.
20. A structure of the claim 19 wherein said structure constitutes a showcase having a main body, an opening at least one side of the main body and a storage chamber.
21 .A structure of the claim 20 wherein said storage chamber is provided by illuminating assembly capable to provide substantially high brightness background.
22. A structure of the claim 21 wherein said illuminating assembly provides a _ level of illumination of 6 -10 times stronger than the level of illumination outside said showcase.
PCT/IB2013/001458 2012-07-04 2013-07-04 Display module and structure with such module WO2014006490A1 (en)

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US61/667,944 2012-07-04

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EP3155607A4 (en) * 2014-06-16 2018-03-14 Manufacturing Resources International, INC. Transparent lcd assembly with display case
US10705288B2 (en) 2014-06-16 2020-07-07 Manufacturing Resources International, Inc. Thermal management system for a transparent electronic display located in an access panel of a display case
US10679243B2 (en) 2014-06-16 2020-06-09 Manufacturing Resources International, Inc. System and method for tracking and analyzing consumption
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US11947384B2 (en) 2019-03-29 2024-04-02 Anthony, Inc. Door for mounting a removable electronic display

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