When devices are designed for use outdoors, there are immediately several challenges to overcome and, for us, one of the most important is getting the balance right when it comes to brightness. But why? Surely, to counteract the effect of strong sunlight we simply use a TFT display with high brightness? Well, yes, but it comes at a significant cost: heat dissipation.
To reach the level of brightness needed for the great outdoors, TFT displays typically use backlight systems that produce enormous amounts of light – way more than you would ever be able to see when you’re using it. This is partly because of the structure of the TFT itself, but also the number of components between it and you – touch sensors, vandal-proof glass and front-glass coatings, for example.
So, a lot of light is needed to counter the reflections of the glaring sun and (even with modern LED backlight technology) a lot of the electrical power required is converted into heat rather than light.
This heat can be substantial and highly problematic. Operating conditions, available space within the housing, cooling methods and ambient temperature can all have an impact on the internal temperature, leading it to reach – or even exceed – critical levels.
This can render liquid crystal cells inoperative, accelerate component ageing and even cause complete device failure.
And, of course, when you combine this with the effects of direct sunlight, the risk of overheating is exacerbated further. Indeed, UV radiation from the sun can even cause parts of the display to decompose, bleach or weaken.
Seems like a bleak outlook, doesn’t it? However, there are plenty of mitigation strategies that can be put in place to mitigate both the effects of heat dissipation and UV damage:
Like most things, a bit of careful planning in the design stages can ensure reliability and long-lasting performance of TFT displays in outdoor environments. And, of course, our in-house designers and engineers can expertly guide you when it comes to these kinds of mitigations strategies and so much more.
SimplePlus is an old friend to so many of our customers, which is why we are happy to adapt and modify this well-loved and reliable display to meet their changing requirements. Our latest addition to the range turns up the brightness on the popular 10.4” model.
Outdoor environments pose unique challenges for touchscreens – requiring robust construction and exceptional performance under harsh conditions like wet environments, extreme temperatures, vandalism, and electromagnetic interference.
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Frank Ploenissen - Marketing Manager Display Integration, Avnet at Avnet After getting his diploma in electrical engineering, Frank entered the world of display solution and distribution in the year 2000, holding product responsibility for several display and touch lines. Starting 2007 he worked as a sales and marketing manager for a design and manufacturing company of CCFL and LED backlight drivers, and afterwards established the German branch for a Austrian display and solution provider. In 2013, Frank joined former MSC which in turn was bought by Avnet. In his current role as Marketing Manager Display Integration, Frank and his team supports the Avnet team and their customers concerning the integration of display products into customer applications and steers and extends the product lines of SimplePlus and MipiPlus display solutions.Read More |
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