AbraxSys announced today the release of a new harsh-duty 12.1” sunlight readable monitor series with IPS industrial panel and Projected Capacitive Touch Screen.

This new sunlight readable series of 12.1” high bright, touch screen LCD monitors perform ideally in high ambient light conditions, delivering the intensity, brilliance and long product life cycle required by outdoor applications.  AbraxSys enhanced high bright TFT active matrix displays deliver a maximum brightness level of 1100 nits (cd/m2). AbraxSys’ direct sun, daytime readable LCDs significantly outperform cheaper non-enhanced commercially available products that washout in direct sunlight conditions.

This new series of outdoor displays feature two significant performance technologies: IPS and PCAP

IPS (In-plane switching) is a screen technology for liquid crystal displays (LCDs).  It was designed to solve the main limitations of the twisted nematic field effect (TN). These limitations included strong viewing angle dependence and low-quality color reproduction.

PCAP (projected capacitive touch) technology is an ideal choice for a wide range of industrial-grade applications, such as process control terminals, medical displays and agricultural vehicle telemetry systems, as the touch performance in unaffected by scratches, dirt and dust on the screen. They can also be operated by a user wearing heavy gloves, and can be sealed to extremely high IP rated systems making them suitable for challenging or outdoor deployments.

The mechanical configurations and corresponding AbraxSys high bright LCD models are:

Panel Mount NEMA 4: Model SRD-PM-121

Panel Mount NEMA 4X: Model SRD-PS-121

VESA Mount: Model SRD-VM-121

The AbraxSys 15”, 17” and 19” sunlight readable SRD displays have been newly modified with ultra wide extended clearing temperature range panels, high nit levels and wide contrast ratios. These new advancements will better meet the operating temperature, image quality and luminance requirements of AbraxSys industrial customers.

Special heat management ensures displays have industrial-environment-compatibility to achieve tolerance for the operating temperatures required in many industrial applications, AbraxSys uses very wide clearing temperature true industrial grade LCD TFT panels and as well has designed the housing of the new LCDs specifically for LED background lighting and equipped them with dedicated heat management: heat conductors transport the waste heat of the LEDs and their drivers to the rear outer side of the panel where it can be easily given off into the environment.  The new LED backlight versions of the proven industrial-grade LCDs therefore fulfill industry specifications with an extended operating temperature range of -30°C to 75°C and a service life of up to 100,000 hours.

Extreme temperatures can cause a number for problems for LCD displays. An inexpensive computer monitor, the kind you buy at your local big box store or from a commodity supplier in Asia, may have an operating temperature range of 0° C to 32 or 40° C. That’s fine for most office uses but is inadequate for many harsh environment applications such as outdoors in direct sun. Many real world applications have special demands when it comes to thermal capabilities, such as -30°C to 75°C. Industrial, non-automotive transportation and military sectors, among others, often require LCD displays that can operate in such extreme temperature environments.

The LED backlit displays from AbraxSys are an advanced engineered combination of the high stability required for industrial applications and the benefits of an LED backlight.  These include, among others, the prompt response and long-life characteristics of the LEDs particularly at low temperatures and excellent dimming capability over the entire brightness range of the LEDs.  Another important advantage of the LED backlight is the low-volt operating voltage. This means that the high-voltage inverter required for CCFL lamps is no longer necessary.   Amongst other things, the high image quality of these newly designed display are due to the extremely uniform illumination of the display by the very bright LED backlights.

The specific upgrades by model size are as follows:

15” Models Impacted:   SRD-VM-150, SRD-FVM-150, SRD-PM-150, SRD-PS-150, SRD-RM-150
New Specifications Include:
*  1100 nits (option for 1600 nits available)
*  In-Plane-Switching LCD (IPS)
*  1500:1 Ultra-Wide Contrast
*  Operational Temperature Range:  -25° to 70°C (-13°F to 158°F)

17” Models Impacted:  SRD-VM-170, SRD-PM-170, SRD-PS-170, SRD-RM-170
New Specifications Include:
*  1600 nits
*  1000:1 Ultra-Wide Contrast
*  Operational Temperature Range:  -30° to 75°C (-22°F to 167°F)

19” Models Impacted:  SRD-VM-190, SRD-PM-190, SRD-PS-190, SRD-RM-190
New Specifications Include:
*  1100 nits (option for 1500 nits available)
*  1000:1 Ultra-Wide Contrast
*  Operational Temperature Range:  -30° to 75°C (-22°F to 167°F)

Visit AbraxSys Sunlight Readable LCD Products

AbraxSys has begun implementing latest optical bonding process technology called “Dry Bonding”. This brand-new dry vacuum bonding will replace the current standard of “wet bonding” technology. Dry bonding utilizes production jigs and is fully automated making it very stable in yield and precision. This is particularly important for smaller size TFT LCDs.

Liquid optical bonding technology (“wet” bonding) was developed for LCDs in late 1970’s. In spite of its challenges, it is still the current standard of optical bonding technology. The bonding material involves many ingredients but typically these materials are purchased as a two-part thermal cured chemistry. In a two-part system, the materials must be thoroughly mixed in prescribed ratios of the “wet” agents and de-aired. Great care must be taken so that all pockets of air and gas, generated due to mixing or chemical interactions, are eradicated and then filtered to minimize the existence of any foriegn substances. Liquid optical bonding is typically labor intensive with long cycle times.

During the curing of 2-part chemicals in “wet bonding”, considerable shrinkage may occur which makes it challenging to precisely control the bond-line. Many liquid adhesives, especially silicone apply a primer material to achieve sufficient adhesion to many low surface energy substrates. Additionally, the clean-up of the display panel and tooling are required after lamination, increasing the cycle time, material and solvent cost, equipment cost, and can further yield loss.

Dry film bonding applies flexible substrates and optical films to the rigid LCD substrates by using pressure sensitive adhesion. The dry bonding process positions a tack-free sheet material next to one substrate and then is mechanically assembled to a second substrate. The whole assembly is then vacuum sealed and further exposed to pressure and temperature in compliance with a prescribed recipe.

There are multiple advantages to dry bonding over wet optical bonding.

1. Dry bonding is much cleaner and faster because the LCD is laminated without residuals to remove after bonding and the tooling remains ready for immediate re-use.
2. The process is dimensionally superior because it does not require allowing for shrinkage, bond-line control, or varying cure rates that can change the bond-line and create internal stress.
3. There is no wastage of raw materials. Cleaning solvents are not necessary.
4. The process is much faster due to fewer steps, little clean up, and less equipment. It can be completed in under 30 minutes, whereas “wet” bonding needs to cure following the bonding process for typically 3 days.
5. Since the materials are solid, full automation is achievable.
6. Dry film bonding produces high yield and is repairable, which is not the case with many liquid optical bonding technologies.
7. Dry bonding is more stable up to altitudes over 100,000 ft (30,000+ meters). Most liquid bonded stacks begin deteriorating just over 40,000 ft, (12,000 meters) at least temporarily.
8. Easily add additional layers of optical substrates to increase resistance to boot-kick or ballistic applications.
9. Typically has lower deflection amplitude at resonance than liquid bonded displays. Also has higher resonance frequency.

Behind the LCD
Since many of our flat panel display systems and LCD computers are used in uncontrolled lighting environments, we add a number of passive enhancements to maximize the readability of the touchscreen control interface. The touchscreen itself incorporates an anti-glare coating on its face, as well as an anti-reflective coating on the back and front of the LCD. The LCD also has a transflective backlight enhancement film. These coatings match the index of refraction to reduce light reflecting back at the viewer which increases the contrast ratio and enhances overall readability in bright lighting conditions. (See figure below)

A normal LCD will turn black when exposed to sunlight and UV radiation. Design innovations allow the LCD to operate in direct sunlight. Through the use of these special coatings, films, and filters, the unit obtains sunlight readability without additional backlights. The end result is 1000+ nit equivalent viewing without the additional power draw and heat generation of more backlights. Consequently, our flat panel display systems have longer life, better processor performance, and wider operating temperature range.

Then we integrate our enhanced backlight technology increasing the overall luminace performance of the LCD’s light source. AbraxSys uses both LED and CCFL backlighting to achieve brightness. LED backlighting creates an amazingly bright LCD display as does CCFL but with low power consumption and without increased heat usually associated with higher wattage CCFL backlights. Standard color LCDs are often unable to provide sufficient luminance for viewing under bright, outdoor environments; the result is poor image quality. AbraxSys’ high brightness LCD monitors & computers deliver a radically higher level of brightness, resulting in unparalleled picture sharpness. Our high-performance products are ideal for use under any high ambient light condition, and will give you the intensity and brilliance your application requires.

Then we add our unique Optical Bonding procedure:

Improved contrast. Faster perception. Higher performance.

Increase TFT AMLCD readability-at-a glance capability by specifying an optically bonded TFT display from AbraxSys. Combine LED backlight enhancement, optical coatings, or touchscreens to meet your human interface requirements. AbraxSys’ optical bonding facility provides proven quality systems, extensive in-house optical test verification capabilities, a certified clean room and other environmental controls.

Key Benefits
• Improves contrast by eliminating mismatched reflective layers
• Improves readability without increasing backlight wattage
• Strengthens the overall integrity of the LCD
• Eliminates the “Greenhouse” effect and going isotropic
• Optical coatings reduce specular and diffuse reflections
• Less power required for battery powered devices while attaining
excellent readability
• Certified clean room and environmental controls
• Fast, responsive manufacturing in U.S.A.

Standard LCD displays are fine for most indoor applications, but they are challenged in outdoor, rugged or environmentally extreme applications. For these applications, commercial displays are all but useless. The choice are either make the display washout less, or make the display brighter; and in some cases, both options. The OEM display manufacturers are not focused on these extreme markets and applications. This is where AbraxSys helps the display customer. AbraxSys’ line of high performance optically bonded displays are ideal for outdoor or rudded environments where top performance is required.

CONCLUSION
The high brightness solution is to use LED light bar in replacement of CCFL as the backlight source, and coupled with optic films, advanced reflection patterns design on light guide bottom, and special radiation technology to achieve high brightness and low power backlight source. Brightness is important because it affects readability. The high brightness solution increases day-time and night-time visibility and offers a good choice of sunlight readable solution. Related applications covers from ATM, the in-vehicle satellite television, the telephone booth, and the outdoor displays.

In order to satisfy the application market for high brightness displays, Advantech develops our in-house high brightness technology positively, which is guaranteed to meet your application needs. A standard LCD monitor is generally 300 ~ 500nits. Advantech high brightness solution at the moment can help enhance the LCD brightness up to 2,000nits and meanwhile increase the color saturation and the contrast. Moreover, our high brightness solution requires low power consumption, resulting in displays that run cooler with minimal stress but maximum reliability.

Benefits
Brightness up to 2,200 nits
Enhanced sunlight readability
High uniformity > 90%.
Increased contrast ratio
Wide dimming 0%~100%
Low power consumption (ex. For 15” LCD, 1,700 nits <30W)
Suitable for operation environment from -30℃ to 80℃
Green process and material
Long backlight half-life, some well over 100,000 hrs

Our Applications Engineers will be happy to discuss how our sunlight readable flat panel display systems can solve your low/high light application requirements.   Contact us for further information.

Less glare from external light, combined with improved image clarity, offers better overall picture visibility.

An optical effect called “sparkle” has been a problem throughout the displays community. Visual sparkle becomes obvious as a twinkling of the image displayed on screens with matted scattering anti-glare cover layers (e.g. touch sensitive panels), it becomes especially distinct when the head of the observer is moving with respect to the display. Some computer users even complain about focusing problems and eye-strain caused by such “sparkling”. With increasing resolution of modern display screens, the problem seems to become even more severe. On the other hand, reduction of the reflectance of disturbing ambient light sources becomes very important since such devices are often operated under conditions without direct control of the illumination (e.g. outdoors).

When optimizing display systems with respect to visual performance, control of disturbing sparkling effects is not the only objective. In addition, the reflectance of ambient light sources should be minimized (this is actually the original objective for applications of AG-layers) and distinct images of ambient light-sources should be avoided by adequately tuned scattering. At the same time, the AG-layer should not negatively affect the distinctness of the image content of the display screen. The optimization tasks AbraxSys takes comprises at least the following three aspects:

♦ reduction of reflections from ambient light-sources,
♦ reduction of sparkling effects,
♦ maintenance of image quality of the display screen.

Key benefits:
• The world’s first ultra-strong cover glass with state-of-the-art anti-glare effect
• Significantly reduces glare on high resolution displays, even under adverse viewing conditions (bright sunlight, high ambient lighting)
• Uniform, homogenous surface modification offers improved visibility and smooth touch experience for consumers
• Unique surface structure optimized for easy cleaning and fingerprint resistance
• Flexibility of the novel etching process offers opportunities for custom gloss values
• Both chemical and thermal strengthening are compatible with Cover AG
• Mechanical and strength performance properties of the base glass are not affected by the surface treatment

Increase TFT AMLCD readability-at-a glance capability by specifying an optically bonded TFT display from AbraxSys. Combine LED backlight enhancement, optical coatings, or touchscreens to meet your human interface requirements. AbraxSys’ optical bonding facility provides proven quality systems, extensive in-house optical test verification capabilities, a certified clean room and other environmental controls. Standard LCD displays are fine for most indoor applications, but they are challenged in outdoor, rugged or environmentally extreme applications. For these applications, commercial displays are all but useless. The choices are either make the display washout less, or make the display brighter; and in some cases, both options. The OEM display manufacturers are not focused on these extreme markets and applications. This is where AbraxSys helps the display customer. AbraxSys’ line of high performance optically bonded displays are ideal for outdoor or rugged environments where top performance is required.

Key Benefits
• Improves contrast by eliminating mismatched reflective layers
• Improves readability without increasing backlight wattage
• Increased Sunlight Readability by up 400%
• Increased Shock and Vibration Durability
• Strengthens the overall integrity of the LCD
• Increased scratch resistance up to 300%
• Enables resistance to extreme temperatures
• Eliminates the “Greenhouse” effect and going isotropic
• Optical coatings reduce specular and diffuse reflections
• Less power required for battery powered devices while attaining
   excellent readability
• Certified clean room and environmental controls
• Fast, responsive manufacturing in U.S.A.