While viewing a display in either
direct sunlight or other high ambient lighting conditions,
many users experience what we at VarTech refer to
as the “Squint Factor” -- the viewing quality
of a monitor in high light conditions can be diminished
or become “washed out”. Current technology
has defined three methods that can be used to increase
display brightness. As always, there is a cost vs.
efficiency trade off amongst the methods. Although
the traditional high bright monitor offers the “best
of both worlds” scenario, it is also the most
expensive of each method used. The transflective and
optical bonding methods of achieving a high bright
monitor do present some tradeoffs, however, are perfectly
suited to many applications and offer a cost savings
over a traditional high bright display.
Below you will find a description
of the 3 major types of high bright monitors. VarTech
Systems offers high
bright displays in 6” – 47” screen
sizes and a variety of mounting options: VESA, yoke,
rack, console and panel. Within the VarTech line of
high bright displays, you will also find that many
of the models are available in NEMA 4, NEMA 4X and
All-Weather Models (NEMA 6P).
Actively
Enhanced or Traditional High Bright Displays
use additional backlights in comparison to standard
commercial grade LCDs in order to increase the luminance
level of the monitor. Due to the additional heat produced
by these backlights, the necessity of thermal management
comes into play and dual fan cooling systems are often
integrated to compensate for the rise in temperature.
The result of these attributes coupled with Vartech’s
standard display technology yields displays exhibiting
700 to 1200 nits thus allowing them to be completely
sunlight viewable. In addition, these products may
also be equipped with either manual or automatic dimming
controls for those instances where low and high brightness
must be attained. These systems are ideal for use
in direct sunlight or any high ambient light condition.
More Information on VarTech's high
bright displays.
Optically
Bonded High Bright Displays increase the apparent
luminance level of a monitor by sealing either a protective
top cover glass layer or touch screen to the face
of the display screen. In turn, this optically bonded
layer reduces the reflectivity, increases contrast,
decreases the need for high bright backlights and
lowers the display temperature. Our bonding process
eliminates the air-gap between the display and the
cover glass, vastly reducing reflective light, which
causes visual washout of the display image. V-BOND
also enhances structural integrity by supporting the
LCD assembly with the cover glass. The bond maintains
perfect display uniformity while providing shock protection,
unlimited humidity protection, and elimination of
fogging caused by trapped moisture accumulating in
typical air-gap assemblies. With a V-Bonded monitor
a typical 300 –500 nits display is sunlight viewable
in most lighting conditions. At 500 nits or greater
the display becomes completely sunlight viewable.
Learn more about VarTech's V-Bond
process to achieve a high
bright display.
Transflective
Flat Panel Displays utilize a standard LCD
and then integrate a partially reflective mirror layer
between the LCD and the backlight. When a transflective
Flat Panel is used indoors, it is illuminated by the
backlight just like a transmissive LCD, except that
the mirror layer blocks some of the light. When a
transflective LCD is used outdoors, ambient light
reflects off the mirror layer and illuminates the
LCD. Note, that outdoor light has to go through the
LCD twice, once on the way in and once on the way
out and this tends to make the outdoor performance
of a transflective LCD not as good as the indoor performance,
where the light only has to go through the LCD once.
A transflective LCD is therefore by definition a compromise.
It can never be as bright as a transmissive LCD indoors,
and it can never be as bright as an ultra high brightness
flat panel outdoors, but with transflective technology,
there is no added power requirement, the cost savings
over traditional ultra high brightness flat panels
can be significant, and the need to dissipate additional
heat is minimized. More Information on VarTech's transflective
high bright displays.
