how to repair an lcd screen manufacturer

If the picture responds to input but displays a messy image, such as jumbled multicolored squares, the AV (audio visual) board may be damaged. This is usually a rectangular circuit board located near the audio and visual cables. Replace obviously damaged parts using a soldering iron, or order a replacement board and carefully install it to the same screws and ribbon cables.

The main control buttons may be faulty. Clean them with a metal cleaner, or jostle to attach a loose connection. If necessary, locate the circuit board they are attached to and re-solder any broken connections.

Check input cables for damage, or try other cables of the same type. If necessary, inspect the circuit board they are attached to and re-solder damaged connections.

In my case the ribbon was half detached. I took the pen solder bold and set it to 180 °C and slowly moved several times with medium pressure along the ribbon and pressed it onto the plate. I had to repeat this procedure 3-4 times until all pixels were working again.1

I investigated my landline phone to repare its LCD according to this good tutorial, unfortunatly I found the cutted connection is not on the main PCB board but on the flat connector itself... and any heat applied (soldering tentative...) to the flat is going do destroid it completly ((

Instead of hot-air gun use hot melt adhesive (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-melt_adhesive) gun. Just use its hot spike, and you will be able to point precisely to the place you need a heat.0

I had a Natwest Card reader, where the screen was illegible and using this tip with my wife"s hairdryer I got the card reader operational, many thanks !!!0

Unfortunately, after two days the display started to lose some segments. What would other people recommend? Is this expected and should I have done something else other than heating and rubbing with an eraser?

Many thanks for sharing the information on how to fix these displays! Worked out perfectly on a asus lcd poster from ages back which gave no screen at all and are not sold anymore to replace.ReplyUpvote

Very good interesting piece. I am no way shape or form of an electronics junkie , but i am more like a jack of all trades and a master of none type. I have a dual power TS-100 hand held calculator where the second digit was pixelated I would say. I googled how to repair it and seen your story. I took my calculator apart and the back side is where that glue strip is at. I could not find my heat gun, thanks to having to move it for the Christmas tree setup. I used my Kitchen Propane stove front burner and waived it over it a few times. It took a few tries but I finally was able to get the dead pixel back. One good thing is the calculator was on so in between heat ups and eraser rubbings I could see my progress and man your fix really worked. Thanks fro the story. My favorite pocket calculator is fixed once again. I wish I would have taken before and after photos, but was too giddy to try your repair idea.0

Google offers no link as to how to open an AEG Voxtel D235 handset. After opening the battery compartment and removing batteries and the two Philips screws at the bottom, the upper half refuses to budge. Is there a method for opening the upper part, to access the LCD screen connector for repair? Any suggestions appreciated.0

This made me squeal when it worked! I fixed an old treadmill computer from a machine I bought second-hand. There was a broken connection on the breadboard so I dunno if that work but we"ll see! I didn"t have a heat gun, blow dryer or clothes iron to use, but I made it work with the end of my hot glue gun. Thanks, God bless!

I just got my CM921 to work - so, carefully unplug or remove the lcd unit from the circuit board (8 pins i think) then separate the white board (same size as the lcd) from the back of the lcd display (it was glued on one side and i used a scalpel) the lcd will then flip over and you can see the ribbon, then follow the instructions above, return the lcd back down on top of the little white board as before and plug it back in...0

There may be a thin conductive rubber strip between the glass of the display & the board it is attached to. Over time this rubber can leak an insulating compound onto the interface connection that can, at times, be removed by removing the strip and gently rubbing it with a clean soft eraser. Be gentle as it can be fragile & easily damaged. This was an effective repair in the early days of these displays.0

3. #If all the above is OK, measure the LVDS voltage value. Under normal conditions, the LVDS signal’s RX+/ RX-voltage value is about 1.2v, and RX+/ RX-difference value is about 200mV. At the same time, the resistance of the LVDS signal to ground and the resistance between the LVDS signal pairs can be measured (100 ohms). If there is an exception to these values, try replacing the ASIC.

1. #Confirm whether the COF on side X is hot compared with the normal temperature, whether there is fracture or wear crack, and whether the COF is burnt.

2. #Confirm whether the VAA is normal (normally about 17V). If abnormal, disconnect the RP32 to confirm whether it is caused by DC/DC loop or X-side COF: disconnect RP32, if the VAA is normal, the COF is bad, CO must be changed; COF can be Disconnect one by one to determine which NG disconnects RP32, VAA NG, try to change UP1; at the same time, confirm whether the continuity of the surrounding triode is OK.

4. #Determine whether the gate IC is OK. There is a signal test point on the back of COG-IC, and the green paint can be scraped for measurement confirmation; If there is a gate IC problem, which IC fault can be confirmed. The confirmation of gate IC fault is only for analysis when you are interested, and this method is not recommended.

1. #Measure GM1~GM14, the values are arranged from large to small. In general, a certain gamma value will be abnormal in the case of NG, then try to replace gamma-IC;

3. #Confirm whether the RSDS value is correct, normal RSDS is about 1.2v, and the signal difference is about 200mV; At the same time, we can confirm the resistance between RSDS signal (normal 100 or 50 ohms) and RSDS resistance to ground. If the voltage is NG, check if the ASIC and X-COF are hot.

Polarizer / CELL damaged To change the polarizer, a polarizer attaching machine is required The degree of whitening of the picture changes with different viewing angles

1. #Adjust the VR knob to see whether it can be adjusted and whether the screen performance changes. At the same time, confirm the VCOM value (about 7v), if NG, replace the VR knob.

2. #Confirm VGH/VGL voltage (about 30V VGH and -6v VGL), and confirm whether it is DC/DC loop NG or COF IC NG; The corresponding resistance of disconnected VGH and VGL can determine whether it is a DC/DC problem or a COF-IC problem. If it is DC/DC NG, try to replace UP1 or confirm whether the corresponding transistor is OK.

3. #If the whiteness changes significantly with the view Angle, and above 1&2 analysis is all OK, polarizer NG or CELL NG can be basically determined.

3. #Confirm whether the gate IC is OK. There is a signal test point on the back of COG IC, which can scrape the green paint for measurement confirmation; Or cut COF halfway from G3. If there is a gate-ic problem, which IC fault can be confirmed.

2. #Confirm whether there is 12V input, if not, confirm whether the connector is OK, and confirm the resistance value of 12V voltage to earth; If conn. NG, change conn.; If 12V is short-circuited to the ground, disconnect FP1 to determine the short-circuiting circuit.

3. #Confirm whether FP1 is open; if open, replaces fuse. If the 12V accessory of this model has a reverse diode, confirm the continuity of the diode and check whether it is burnt.

B. Confirm VAA resistance to ground at VAA test point of R plate (A short circuit usually occurs), disconnect the corresponding capacitance of the following 3 COF, and confirm VAA resistance to the ground again. If OK, replace the capacitor, if NG, replace COF. If VAA is still NG, confirm DC/DC loop as all models.

6. #Disconnect RP32 to confirm VAA, if NG, try to change the PWM IC (in general, it will be good), if still NG, try to change the gamma-ic or corresponding to the VAA several large capacitances (in general, it is rare, this situation is generally accompanied by VAA to the ground short circuit).

3. #Shaking module, if vertical lines disappear or reappear, then it can be judged that the possible cause is COF pin broken, and the crease should be found under the OM microscope.

4. #Press the LCD glass side of the panel, if the vertical lines disappear or reappear, it can be judged that the cause of poor contact, OM checking should be able to find the poor contact.

5. #If there is no display change in pressing, confirm whether ITO is damaged under the OM microscope, or pin signal waveform corresponding to needle COF.

Lamp line is broken Replace the lamp tubing Depending on the backlight structure, there will be different results. The failure of the performance may be a point-off, or it may be a backlight with a dark band.

4. #The above disassembly judgment can basically solve the problems of point-off in the market. If you can’t tell the truth, you can directly change the lamp tube.

Lamp line is broken Reconnect / replace lamp tubing Depending on the protection status of the power board, it may be a backlight with a dark band or it may be a point-off.

3. #Disassemble the backlight, confirm whether there is a short circuit with broken skin on the lamp strip, whether the plug of the lamp strip is fully integrated with the socket, whether the pin is aslant/off, whether the connector is off, and whether the LED bead is black and injured.

4. #The fault of the product is basically caused by the above reasons. If the appearance is fault-free, the lamp bar can be crossed to confirm whether the phenomenon follows the lamp bar, or the voltage of the lamp bar and the conduction condition between the lamp beads can be measured.

The above is the full text of LCD screen failure repair guide, we hope it is helpful to you. If you need to buy LCD and find a reliable LCD supplier, we suggest you to read our other great blog – How to find a reliable LCD supplier.

Founded in 2014, VISLCD is a professional LCD supplier. We provide LCD modules, touch LCD and customized LCD in various sizes with stable quality and competitive price. Welcome to contact us for any LCD demand, thank you.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are the most widely used display technology. Their applications cover TV, mobile phone, appliances, automotive, smart home, industrial meters, consumer electronics, POS, marine, aerospace, military etc. LCD screen display problem can occur for several reasons.

Effect of environmental conditions on the LCD assembly. Environmental conditions include both the effects of temperature and humidity, and cyclic loading.

Effect of manufacturing process. With the development of LCD for more than 40 years and the modern manufacturing equipment, this kind if defects are getting rear.

Common failures seen in LCDs are a decrease in screen contrast, non-functioning pixels or the whole display, and broken glass. Different kinds of LCD display problem need to have different kinds of fix methods or make the decision not worthwhile to repair.

Broken glassIf you accidently drop the LCD and you find it broken on the surface but the display still works. You might just break the touch panel; you can find a repair house or find a youtube video to replace the touch panel. If you find the display not showing, especially you find the fluid leaking out. You need to reply the whole display modules.

Dim LCD displayLCD can’t emit light itself. It uses backlight. Normally, the backlight is not fully driven, you can increase the LED backlight to make a dim LCD display brighter. But if you LCD display has been used for a long time, it is possible that the LED backlight has to be the end of life (not brightness enough) if you turn on 100% backlight brightness. In that case to fix LCD screen, you have to find a way to change the backlight. For some display, it is an easy job but it can be difficult for other displays depending on the manufacturing process.

Image sticking (Ghosting)Sometimes, you will find the previous image still appearing at the background even if you change to another image. It is also called burn in. This kind of failure doesn’t need to repair by professionals. You can simply shut off the display overnight, this kind of problem will go away. Please do remember that displaying a static image for a long time should be avoided.

With the modern manufacturing process and design, this kind of failure rarely happens. Normally, it is caused by no power. Please check if the battery dead or adapter (power supply) failure or even check if you have plug in firmly or with the wrong power supply. 99% the display will be back on.

LCD has white screen – If a LCD has a white screen which means the backlight is good. Simply check your signal input sources which are the most causes. It can also be caused by the display totally damaged by ESD or excess heat, shock which make the LCD controller broken or the connection failure which has to be repaired by professionals.

Blur ImagesAs the LCD images are made of RGB pixels, the screen shouldn’t be blur like old CRT displays. If you do see blur images, they might be caused by two reasons. 1) LCD has certain response time, if you are playing games or watch fast action movies, some old LCD displays can have image delays. 2) The surface of the LCD is made of a layer of plastic film with maximum hardness of 3H. If you clean the surface often or use the wrong detergent or solvent which cause the surface damage. To fix damage on LED screen it’s need to be changed with professionals.

If you have any questions about Orient Display displays and touch panels. Please feel free to contact: Sales Inquiries, Customer Service or Technical Support.

People often ask how to repair the LCD display. In fact, this is a very professional problem, because precision instruments can not be explained in one word or two, so today I will tell you

Liquid-Crystal Displays, or LCDs, provide outstanding quality and unparalleled clarity in visual media. LCD displays come in many forms, from television sets to smartphones, having set a golden standard for entertainment and visual technology. These displays operate with common parts and often are simple to repair if they begin to dim.

Exercise caution when determining how and even if you should repair a faint LCD screen. Some screens lend themselves more easily to repair than others, while you should not attempt to repair others at all. You should handle old screens, such as classic cellphones or any older or legacy LCD screens, with great care. Consider asking a professional to help you with repairs, as you could inflict permanent damage to these items. Carelessness and ignorance can also permanently damage modern screens as well. If your screen remains under a warranty, don"t void it by opening the device. Contact your manufacturer and have the company repair it for you.

A common culprit for a dim LCD screen lies in a malfunctioning fluorescent backlight, known as a CCFL failure. Every LCD varies in construction and size, so consult your manufacturer"s documentation on how to remove any outer casing and, if necessary, the screen itself, when working with a laptop or computer monitor. Other components, such as a copper ground or an LCD controller board, may obstruct your path. Take careful note of these items and their proper locations, then gently move them out of the way until you can access the CCFL bulb. The bulb may rest in its own slot, depending on the type of screen you"re working with. On either end, gently remove the rubber caps from the old bulb and place them on the new bulb. A power cable should attach at one end and may require you to solder it in place. When complete, carefully replace the CCFL and all other components within the display module, then test your LCD display module. It should return to its former brightness.

If a new bulb did not correct the problem, other hardware issues can cause the screen to dim. Take your display module apart once again and examine the power cord that attaches to the CCFL to ensure it attaches properly. It should make contact with metal or a lead on the bulb itself and should not attach to the rubber caps which will prevent or dampen the flow of electricity to the bulb. If this does not correct your problem, instead examine your LCD"s power supply. When dealing with a TV or stand-alone monitor, this becomes vitally important. You may need only to replace a cord that plugs into an outlet. If more severe, an entire power board inside an LCD TV may require replacement. If your device no longer remains under warranty, refer to your manufacturer"s documentation for more information.

Other components can contribute to a faint display on an LCD screen, including faulty capacitors, transistors and inverters. With proper electrical equipment, such as an voltmeter, you can measure the flow of electric current through some of these components to determine proper operation. While it is possible to replace these components if you possess adequate experience, you can also permanently damage your LCD device if you make a mistake. Consider a repair shop if you do not have professional training.

Amanda Holden has more than 17 years of professional writing experience. She is trained in computer programming and computer repair, and currently holds a Bachelor of Science in physics and geology with a minor in computer science. She is pursuing her PhD at a major university. Holden writes for various websites on subjects such as computer science, technical specifications, education, science and math.

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VarTech’s factory-trained engineers and technicians service analog and digital boards, power supplies, and touch systems. PCB (Printed Circuit Board) repairs include extensive testing of all internal functions. To ensure product integrity, all boards are 100% system tested.

If we are unable to fix the monitor or should you elect not to go forward with the repair process, there is no charge for the initial bench-time. VarTech is committed to providing the highest level of industrial monitor repair service in the industry.

Basic Industrial CRT or LCD Monitor Repair:Evaluate, repair, or replace: all faulty or non-operational components (excluding CRT or LCD), all “High-Failure-Rate” components

Factory Monitor Re-manufacturing Program:Replace faulty, dim and/or screen-burnt CRT or LCD with new display, all faulty or non-operational components, all “High-Failure-Rate” components, Integrated Flyback Transformer (IFT) as needed, faulty or weak electrolytic capacitors and other ICS as needed

With an array of different timing profiles and the use of a video-signal generator, full testing is available on most display models we can offer support for.

CRT Monitors: given the nature of the CRT displays, repairing them is often not a viable option. To a large extent this depends on the severity of the damage. When something fails within a CRT display, it often triggers deterioration of other components at the same time. This sometimes leads to a repaired CRT monitor fail again and again, even after a thorough repair.

When a CRT monitor is damaged beyond repair, we have a wide range of different retrofit options available to help get that machine back up and running with an even brighter and clearer image compared to the original monitor.

If you are reading this, you may have accidentally or intentionally damaged the screen of your TV (LCD, LED, Plasma). Now if you are looking for a solution to fix this problem, check out our recommendations:

First: If your TV does not have a cracked screen and the problem has just appeared on its own, you may be able to fall back on the TV manufacturer’s warranty. If your TV screen has developed black spots, vertical lines, small dots, unusually bright pixels, fading, distorted shading, or color issues, you may be able to use the warranty. Be sure to have your purchase receipt, and take note of the model number and serial number on the back of your TV. In case that your warranty has expired, you might contact us with any questions related to your TV repairs.

Second: If your flat-screen TV has the dreaded vertical lines, half of the screen has turned darker, the screen is cracked, or the screen is broken, this can be repaired but may cost more than you paid for the complete TV. If your screen is cracked or broken, you can try replacing the screen, LCD, Plasma, or LED part.

If your TV screen is cracked and damaged, it is mean that you have damaged the LCD, LED or Plasma display. If this is your case, we, at the Nerd Repair Center do not recommend fixing the broken/cracked screen because it will cost you more to repair your TV than to replace it with a new one.  I know this is no the answer you were looking to hear, unfortunately, this way we will save you a lot of time and money in the process. please note that this is the nerd repair center professional recommendation based on years of tv repair service experience.

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When your LCD display has broken, needs replaced or simply needs a technology upgrade, and you have design/equipment elements to consider, you will want to look for a replacement part instead of replacing the unit.Problems may arise when you are sourcing the new panel from your original manufacturer.For example, by the time your panel has degraded, your LCD may be end of life, making it difficult to source;original manufacturers may be charging premium prices for their replacementLCD parts.AGDisplays offers a drop in replacement service for customers who need to replace an LCD or LCD component when their original panel/part is unavailable;this service is also for customers who are looking for a cost effective, suitable replacement or upgrade to their existing LCD. AGDisplays offers availability of standard or custom high-quality LCDs of virtually all shapes and sizes.

Replacing or upgrading the LCD component of your equipment sounds intimidating. It is rather simple if you begin your search with AGDisplays. By simply providing us with your panel part number, general specifications (if possible) and any other upgrade requirements or desires that you might have, we source these products for you or we can source an equivalent replacement, as desired. Using a replacement LCD does not compromise on quality and compatibility;we ensure functionality and performance are top priority because we know how critical the LCD interface is for your application.

You may receive notifications from your original equipment manufacturer about your LCD panel. There are a couple of announcements to pay attention to. The most important two are the end of life (EOL) announcement and the end of sale date. The end of life announcement will officialize a future cease production date for the indicated part number. It may also indicate the end of sale date, which is the last date customers are able to order the product through the manufacturer. After this date, the product will no longer be for sale. Typically end of life announcements come six to twelve months before the last time buy date. A few months later is when your last time buy will ship.

If you decide by this point that your equipment is well suited to use the LCD replacement, you may want to grab these panels when they get into the last time buy phase. If you find yourself ready to upgrade after EOL and last time buys have passed, don’t fret.A drop in replacement unit extends the lifecycle of your unit in the case of EOL or unavailability of original parts. Products are matched for compatible integration without compromising quality. AGDisplays offers a full line of compatible replacement industrial LCD display systems. When your design requires an upgrade in features but you still want to retrofit the LCD into your existing equipment, AGDisplays works together with you, discussing requirements and performance options. Our experts have an eye on the safety and longevity of your electrical components. We source alternative panel with same specifications to replace the panel in your equipment. Our drop in replacement LCD displays are selected carefully, with safe and stable compatibility in mind.

At AGDisplays, we have global sources with preferential pricing from our vendors. We verify continuity of supply for steady demand so you are assured your products will be available when you need them. Our International Procurement Office in China verifies these resources and quality of the companies we do business with;we have a secure list of trusted vendors with whom we maintain current business practices. Samples are always tested and verified before placing large orders. Our competitively priced products are sourced in a timely and efficient manner, so your company never misses a deadline.

AGDisplays provides our customers with the opportunity to replace LCD or components so you can avoid having to spend big bucks to OEM companies. With AGDisplays, our customers receive unparalleled attention and support without the hefty price tag that you may get elsewhere.

There are many signs an LCD will give the user to indicate that it may be due for replacement or upgrade. Even users who are not LCD experts will be able to tell when it is time to replace.

Outwardly, your LCD will show physical signs of damage such as a cracked or scratched, foggy or contaminated screen.Mostly, these damages are quickly noticeable to the naked eye and the first obvious sign that your panel may need a replacement. These are clear indications that the outside of your LCD has been damaged and is in need of evaluation or replacement. The application environment will determine the urgency in which you’ll want to replace the LCD. Cracks in the LCD may leave the LCD vulnerable to contamination and dust, which in turn can extend damage and/or decrease visual readability of the display.

Most LED technology estimate LED lifetimes to be upwards of 100,000 hours of useful life. This works out to be about six hours of usage a day—and 45 years of service, whew! So one can assume that LCD components will fail before the LED backlighting system will degrade. However, degradation does happen with long term usage. If your LCD is looking less bright than it should be, it is possible that a component in the display’s backlighting system needs replaced or upgraded.

LCDs that are broken internally may only show a black screen, a white screen, or even show no data when turned on. Other indications will be white/grey/black discoloration spots (called mura) of the display itself when it is turned on, regardless of the data/color that is shown on screen.

Another indication of a dying LCD aredamaged pixels. If you notice a small speck of white or black on your screen that does not go away, even as the screen changes, you may have a damaged pixel or two. There are a few different types of pixel defects, hot, stuck and dead pixels. Hot pixels present themselves as always ‘on,’ they always appear white in color. Dead pixels are always ‘off,’ and look black at all times. Now a stuck pixel is either stuck ‘on’ or ‘off’ so they may appear the same as a hot or dead pixel. These (sometimes) are solved by switching from bright to dark colored screens quickly to unstick these. However, this isn’t a reliable treatment for stuck pixels.

If you’ve notice defective pixels on your LCD screen, do not panic! Some manufacturers have a standard in which it allows a certain amount of pixels in production. Overall, if the LCD in question has an increased rebellion of pixels, whether hot, dead or stuck, the LCD may be of low quality or the pixels are going bad.

Sometimes white, black or multi colored streaks appear running horizontally or vertically along the display. If this is happening on every screen, this is a likely sign that something is wrong inside the LCD.

Signs of LCD degradation include those missing pixels, the dimming of screen brightness over time, and even the loss of color and contrast in a display. If you need more assurance the LCD is the problem, consult AGDisplays to discuss our replacement options.

Neoti certified technicians will repair or replace diodes, modules, shaders, receiving cards, hub boards, power supplies, and more. We approach each LED display screen repair with industry knowledge, skill, and experience. Our passionate, dedicated team commits their time and energy to solve any display problem that arises. We diagnose and develop the right course of action to restore your screen.

We also know that a damaged screen can impact your visitors’ experience or even delay an upcoming event. To help you move forward, we execute LED panel repairs quickly and efficiently. We complete repairs for various industries, such as broadcast, education, stadiums, and corporate organizations.

Affordable service contracts are available, so you can keep up with routine maintenance for your LED panels. We can also step in and perform repairs as needed.

Once you have found the correct part number, see HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Ordering HP certified replacement parts. Use the instructions in this document to order a replacement part.

HP recommends that you only order parts from an authorized HP repair parts dealer. Parts ordered from third-party companies might not perform as expected and might cause additional

However, if the digitizer or LCD is also damaged during a fall, that screen no longer carries value because it cannot be refurbished. Repair shops cannot sell broken LCDs to refurbishing companies; therefore, they cannot offset the cost of an LCD repair. That is why repair stores often charge a little extra if there is damage to the LCD or digitizer, to make up for that loss. Repair stores that don’t have an additional charge for an LCD repair typically inflate their glass repair price to make up for the loss from damaged LCDs. If they have one price, that means everyone is paying more to cover the cost of customers who have damaged LCDs and customers who only have cracked glass. This is why TCR separates the price of glass and LCD repairs for you! If you only have cracked glass, you only have to worry about paying to replace the cracked glass.

If your phone or tablet’s glass is shattered there will be cracks or chips on the screen itself. If it is just the glass that is damaged, the device may still function and you may be able to use it normally. If this is the case, it is likely that only the glass needs to be replaced. To prevent further damage to your device it is best to get it repaired quickly. For example, if liquids seep through the cracks it could cause permanent damage to the LCD.

Many people may continue to use their touchscreen with shattered glass and delay fixing the glass on their devices; however, if the touchscreen isn’t responsive, it could be a sign of more significant damage to the device’s digitizer which is integrated with the LCD screen.

A pixelated screen can indicate LCD damage. This would look like a patch of multicolored dots, a line or lines of discoloration, or a screen with rainbow colors. For many people, these colors are an easy way to know that their LCD is broken and that they should get it repaired.

Dropping your phone isn’t the only reason you’ll end up with a pixelated screen. Over time, your screen’s LCD may break down through regular use. This happens to other devices aside from your smartphone or tablet. Pixelation can happen to TVs and computers, too. People typically decide to buy a new device when this happens. Fortunately, with an LCD repair, you can fix the device without needing to replace it.

A black screen or black spots on your smartphone or tablet is an indication of a damaged LCD. Often with a bad LCD, a phone may still turn on and make noises, but there is no clear picture. This does not necessarily mean any other part of the phone is damaged and a simple screen replacement will get it functioning again. Sometimes it can mean a battery or other internal component is damaged. It is best to have a highly qualified phone repair technician diagnose what is wrong so the appropriate repair can be made.

Fortunately, your mobile device is fixable whether you cracked the glass or damaged the LCD. Stop by or call TCR: Triangle Cellular Repair at (919) 263-2699 for a free diagnostic and quick, affordable cell phone repair in Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. We’re always happy to help!

What exactly is short in the market? Your iPhone’s screen is one solid unit made up of several elements that are fused together with OCA (optically clear adhesive). The exterior glass, the digitizer panel (touch sensor), the polarizer and LCD panel. The LCD panel is the key component that is in short supply. Originally Apple had 3 manufacturers to produce LCD panels (LG, Sharp and Toshiba). Apple’s authorized manufacturers have the exclusive technology to produce LCD panels. Other Chinese manufacturers can copy the glass, digitizer, polarizers, OCA, flex cables, backlights, frames and everything except for the main component of the LCD assembly.

How were we getting these parts before? A big leak in Apple’s supply chain. The iPhone 5, 5S and 5C all share most of the same raw components including the LCD panel, the only difference is the flex cable and plastic frame. Independent factories in China can produce these components and can manufacture any 5 series assembly from an LCD panel. Shown on the left is a pulse pressing machine, used to connect the flex cable to the LCD. We use one of these to repair LCDs with damaged flex cables.

So what’s happening?A few things, first Apple has cut off LG and Toshiba, making Sharp their exclusive supplier for iPhone LCD panels and implemented very tight security. Secondly, they have had Foxconn destroy stockpiles of series 5 LCD panels to reduce the parts and material leakage to factories that re-engineer them for the independent repair industry. Along with this strategy, Apple has instructed Foxconn to reduce series 6 materials leakage from their manufacturing centers. Lastly, Apple is working aggressively with US Customs to seize inbound parts.

How long is this shortage going to last? In short,we have no idea. At the time of this writing, LCD prices have been steadily rising for 6 months and replacement iPhone 6S LCDs cost twice what Apple charges for their repair service. Apple does not intend to compete with independent repair shops, instead they are squeezing the profit out of the industry. LCD refurbishing may help shops cut cost but without new LCD panels entering the system it won’t last long.

What does this mean for the independent repair community?Apple is the only repair operation that is immune. Even the Chinese LCD refurbishing plants used by the large chain repair companies are running out of LCDs. Continually rising costs may push out the big chains but with lower overhead and clever problem-solving, the owner-operated shops stand a fighting chance.

What can we do?Apple has done everything in their power to protect their repair monopoly. When there’s only one repair shop around, prices and wait time goes up and quality goes down. Apple has every incentive to eliminate the parts market. Don’t let them. Check out the Right to Repair Bill.