full meter competition lcd panel brands

If product is deemed defective the customer will receive a replacement part after it is deemed so by Maverick Man Inc. and / or the Manufacture. NO REPLACEMENT WILL BE SENT UNTIL THE PRODUCT HAS GONE THOUGH THE FULL RMA PROCESS with Maverick Man Inc. or the Manufacture.  Each Manufacture has their own policy for warranties and time frame for processing and must be considered in the process.

7.0” TFT LCD panel, 1000 nit brightness for unmatched daytime and nighttime visibility with 800x480 resolution. Onboard photo sensor for automatic brightness control

12 analog inputs for discrete sensors ideal for parameters not supported on the vehicle communication bus or ECU. Expansion modules available separately for additional input

Fully user configurable from display via integrated 4 button interface for at track changes. Optional external switch set can be mounted within driver reach for easy access

Initial release supports 6 layers or screens selected from user- configurable templates (screens/instrument cluster designs/layouts), additional configurability supporting team selected graphics, parameter/instrument type and location, and size will be made available with future firmware and PC software releases

Display features perfectly rendered virtual analog needles, value display bands, digital value indicators for vehicle parameters and configurable full color text warning messages

With a 1.5 inch (38 mm) high LED display, Red Lion’s LPAX displays are modular panel meters that work with various input modules to provide flexibility. Plug-and-play output cards add additional functionality such as setpoint, retransmitted analog and communication options.

Red Lion’s EPAX provides a 4 inch (101 mm) high LED display for easy viewing from distances up to 180 feet. These modular panel meters work with various input modules to provide flexibility. Plug-and-play output cards add additional functionality such as setpoints, retransmitted analog and communication options.

Sycamore, IL – The Auto Meter LCD Competition Race Dash is the next evolution of driver communication and data acquisition. The carbon composite housing is IP65 sealed against water and dust intrusion and will easily withstand 20 g of continuous vibration and 50 g of shock. Our 7” LCD panel ensures easy visibility under all circumstances with unmatched brightness and an optically bonded lens for extreme glare suppression. The display layout is configurable to your individual specifications. The system will accommodate four programmable data bus channels (2 CAN and 2 serial) in conjunction with discrete analog sensors and its integrated 3 Axis Accelerometer. Data collection can occur at up to 1 kHz and the internal memory allows for practically infinite recording time. User definable warnings take advantage of super bright, multicolor LEDs placed around the perimeter of the chassis to alert the driver to critical onscreen information.

Display features perfectly rendered virtual analog needles, value display bands, digital value indicators for vehicle parameters and configurable full color text warning messages.

20 layers / screens / pages selected from  6 user-configurable templates (screens/instrument cluster designs/layouts),  additional configurability supporting team selected graphics, parameter / instrument type and location, and size will be made available with future firmware and PC software releases.

Auto Meter is a leading developer and manufacturer of specialty automotive instrumentation systems as well as battery and electrical system test and charging equipment. The company operates out of a 93,000 square foot facility in Sycamore, Illinois and distributes its products to over 600 active customers within the specialty warehouse distributor, retailer and OEM channels. Auto Meter products are used through out the world and are relied upon by professional racers from NASCAR, to NHRA, to Formula teams as well by sportsmen racers and by street enthusiasts.  Auto Meter Test equipment is used by the worlds leading automotive retail and service organizations.  To learn more about Auto Meter, please visit www.autometer.com

- 7.0” TFT LCD panel, 1000 nit brightness for unmatched daytime and nighttime visibility with 800x480 resolution. Onboard photo sensor for automatic brightness control

- 12 analog inputs for discrete sensors ideal for parameters not supported on the vehicle communication bus or ECU. Expansion modules available separately for additional input

- Fully user configurable from display via integrated 4 button interface for at track changes. Optional external switch set can be mounted within driver reach for easy access

- Initial release supports 6 layers or screens selected from user- configurable templates (screens/instrument cluster designs/layouts), additional configurability supporting team selected graphics, parameter/instrument type and location, and size will be made available with future firmware and PC software releases

- Display features perfectly rendered virtual analog needles, value display bands, digital value indicators for vehicle parameters and configurable full color text warning messages

Attendees visit the booth of TV panel maker Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology during an international exhibition in Shanghai on July 11, 2019. [Photo by Lyu Liang/For China Daily]

Chinese companies have gained a competitive edge in the large-screen display industry and the exit of South Korean counterparts such as Samsung Electronics and LG Display from the liquid crystal display market will bring opportunities for China"s panel makers despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Market research firm Sigmaintell said BOE Technology Group Co Ltd－a leading Chinese supplier of display products and solutions－became the world"s largest shipper of LCD TV panels for the first time in 2019.

The Beijing-based company shipped 53.3 million units of LCD panels in 2019, with production capacity increasing by more than 20 percent on a yearly basis.

The consultancy said the LCD TV panel production area of Chinese manufacturers will account for more than 50 percent of the global total this year, surpassing South Korean competitors who are accelerating the shutdown of large-sized LCD panel production capacity due to competition from Chinese manufacturers.

It estimated the production capacity of large-sized LCD panels will continue to increase in China over the next three years. In addition, global LCD TV panel shipments stood at 283 million pieces last year, a slight decrease of 0.2 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, the shipment area was 160 million square meters, an increase of 6.3 percent year-on-year.

"Chinese companies have gained an upper hand in large-screen LCD displays. Samsung and LG"s decision to exit from the LCD sector means Chinese panel makers will take a dominant position in this field," said Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese tech giant TCL Technology Group Corp.

Li said South Korean firms will focus on organic LED screens and quantum dot LED displays, while Chinese TV panel makers are catching up at a rapid pace.

The pandemic will accelerate reshuffling in the display industry as supply has surpassed demand in the past few years and competition has become very fierce, he added.

Data consultancy Digitimes Research said it comes as little surprise that Samsung has opted to withdraw from the LCD panel sector as its LCD business was losing money in every quarter of 2019 due to challenges from Chinese competitors.

BOE said its Gen 10.5 TFTLCD production line achieved mass production in Hefei, Anhui province, in March 2018. The plant mainly produces high-definition LCD screens of 65 inches and above. With a total investment of 46 billion yuan ($6.5 billion), the company"s second Gen 10.5 TFT-LCD production line launched operations in Wuhan, Hubei province, in December.

The Gen 11 TFT-LCD and active-matrix OLED production line of Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology, a subsidiary of TCL, officially entered operations in November 2018, producing 43-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch LCD screens.

Chen Lijuan, an analyst at Sigmaintell, said panel manufacturers should not just invest in production lines, but also pay more attention to the establishment of the whole supply chain, including raw materials, equipment and technology.

Bian Zheng, deputy director of research at AVC Revo, a unit of market consultancy firm AVC, said China will have a 51 percent market share in global TV shipments in 2020, while South Korea will have 25 percent, adding that large-screen TV panels will bolster healthy development of the industry.

Bian said the OLED and QLED will be the next-generation flat-panel display technologies to be in the spotlight. LG Display is currently the world"s only supplier of large-screen OLED TV panels.

OLED is a relatively new technology and part of recent display innovation. It has a fast response rate, wide viewing angles, super high-contrast images and richer colors. It is much thinner and can be made flexible, compared with traditional LCD display panels.

Segmented By Type (Totalizers, Multi-Input Indicators and Scanners, Temperature and Process Panel Meters, Others), By Display Technology (LED, LCD, Sunlight Readable, Dual Line, Single Line, Bar Graph, Others (Large Display, Etc.

New York, Dec. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Digital Panel Meter Market –Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06370183/?utm_source=GNW

)), By Display Type (Numeric, Alphanumeric, Combination), By End User (IT and telecom, Manufacturing, Government, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, Others), By Applications (Display Current, Display Voltage, Displays Temperature, Others), By Region, By Competition

Global Digital Panel Meter Market is anticipated to grow robustly in the forecast period, 2022-2028.Digital panel meters are the meters that are used to display the data output from signals in digital numbers.

The rising demand from the electronics sector is known to drive the digital panel meter market.It is also anticipated to fuel the development of the global market over the forecast period.

The demand for digital panel meters is driven mainly by consumer electronics due to the widespread usage of these meters in the electronics sector.Today, the utilization of digital displays to show output results in digital data format is becoming more and more prevalent in many commercial processes.

Manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and other industry utilize these digital display meters to monitor the desired output from the data signals such as current, time, voltage, and others in the form of digital numbers on the screen.

The displays used in LCDs or LEDs are the primary aspects responsible for the ever-increasing demand for display panel meters in the consumer electronics market. They show only the needed units instead of the needle and device used in the analog meters.

This remarkable accuracy of the constant calculation done by the digital panel meters is a significant driving factor in the demand for digital display meters during the forecast period.The signal to the digital panel meter can be in many different forms, including resistance, Temperature, AC voltage, DC voltage, AC, and AC power.

These meters are frequently used in electronic instruments, especially in consumer electronics.Several factors are considered when choosing a digital panel meter.

. Digital panel meters are preferred over traditional ones since the numbers are displayed on the screen. The number of digits, size, and color of the displayed number are some of the characteristics responsible for its rapid growth.. Thus, digital panel meters are simpler and more convenient than their analog version, and the data shown is more accurate. Owing to this, its market is expected to grow with a high CAGR in the forecast period.

A digital panel meter is commonly used in electronic applications such as microwave ovens and instrument panels containing panel meters that measure time, weight, and power.Medical centers use digital meters such as glucometers, digital thermometers, and oximeters, indicating various parameters.

Furthermore, a water pump works a pressure gauge panel meter and a motor RPM panel gauge to monitor water flow in a tank and swimming group.Moreover, digital panel meters are also used in cars and sports bikes to translate motion into digital indications such as time, speed, total distance in kilometers or miles, etc.

For instance, in June 2019, Trumeter declared the launch of a single split, three-phase digital APM power meter with features such as a color-changing display, Modbus connectivity, and compact size.

Digital panel meters are employed in multitude industries with different parameters and dimension, contributing to the increasing demand of the digital panel meter market through 2028.For instance, the United Nations conference on trade developments FDI investments in Asia-Pacific developing countries reached USD 619 Billion in 2021.

Price of the digital panel meters is higher than that of analog panel meter besides increased cost of implementation acts as a potential barrier for adoption of digital panel meters in end use industries.

Global Digital Panel Meter Market is segmented into type, display technology, display type, end-user, and application.Based on type, the market is segmented into totalizers, multi-input indicators and scanners, Temperature and process panel meters and others.

Based on display technology, the market is segmented into LED, LCD, Sunlight Readable, Dual Line, Single Line, Bar Graph, and others (Large Display), etc.Based on display type, the market is divided into Numeric, Alphanumeric and Combination.

Major market players in the Global Digital Panel Meter Market are Siemens AG, Murata Power Solutions, Inc, Red Lion Controls, OMRON Corporation, The Danaher Corporation, Phoenix Contact, PR Electronics, Precision Digital Corporation, PR Electronics, OMEGA Engineering Inc.

• In June 2019, Murata Power Solutions introduced its DMS01 Series wide format digital panel meter. It was designed for industrial applications such as factory automation and laboratory instrumentation. The product series provide a wide variety of process voltage and current measuring capabilities.

In this report, the Digital Panel Meter Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Global Digital Panel Meter Market report with the given market data, Tech Sci Research offers customizations according to a company’s specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

In 2007, a young company SPL-LAB was created from the group of engineers, after six months of development, the first sound pressure meter in Russia was presented with a dynamic range up to 180 dB - USB Bass Meter. In parallel with the development of the instrument, the first version of the Measuring Center software for Windows was created. Many car audio competition formats have chosen USB Bass Meter and other Bass Meter devices as official gauges.

2009 was the year of the first measurement USB microphone for measuring the frequency response - USB RTA Meter. Since then, Spl-Lab has entered the market of professional audio systems for high-quality sound.

In the following years, Spl-Lab was actively developing new sound pressure meters and microphones for measuring the frequency response, improving and expanding the functionality. The versions of the Measuring Center software for Android and iOS platforms were released.

In 2013, we added the Smart Voltmeter automotive voltmeter and the Smart Monitor volt-ampere voltage meter to the product range. Thus began to produce electrical measuring instruments.

In 2018, after a long and complicated development, the first car acceleration meter was released - the Race Meter, which has already managed to establish itself with the best side among race drivers and tuning fans.

a line of extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays that provides a video wall solution for demanding requirements of 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments

Since 1983, Planar display solutions have benefitted countless organizations in every application. Planar displays are usually front and center, dutifully delivering the visual experiences and critical information customers need, with proven technology that is built to withstand the rigors of constant use.

In market, LCD means passive matrix LCDs which increase TN (Twisted Nematic), STN (Super Twisted Nematic), or FSTN (Film Compensated STN) LCD Displays. It is a kind of earliest and lowest cost display technology.

LCD screens are still found in the market of low cost watches, calculators, clocks, utility meters etc. because of its advantages of low cost, fast response time (speed), wide temperature range,  low power consumption, sunlight readable with transflective or reflective polarizers etc.  Most of them are monochrome LCD display and belong to passive-matrix LCDs.

TFT LCDs have capacitors and transistors. These are the two elements that play a key part in ensuring that the TFT display monitor functions by using a very small amount of energy without running out of operation.

Normally, we say TFT LCD panels or TFT screens, we mean they are TN (Twisted Nematic) Type TFT displays or TN panels, or TN screen technology. TFT is active-matrix LCDs, it is a kind of LCD technologies.

Actually, IPS technology is a kind of TFT display with thin film transistors for individual pixels. But IPS displays have superior high contrast, wide viewing angle, color reproduction, image quality etc. IPS screens have been found in high-end applications, like Apple iPhones, iPads, Samsung mobile phones, more expensive LCD monitors etc.

Both TFT LCD displays and IPS LCD displays are active matrix displays, neither of them can produce color, there is a layer of RGB (red, green, blue) color filter in each LCD pixels to make LCD showing colors. If you use a magnifier to see your monitor, you will see RGB color. With switch on/off and different level of brightness RGB, we can get many colors.

Neither of them can’t release color themselves, they have relied on extra light source in order to display. LED backlights are usually be together with them in the display modules as the light sources. Besides, both TFT screens and IPS screens are transmissive, it will need more power or more expensive than passive matrix LCD screens to be seen under sunlight.  IPS screens transmittance is lower than TFT screens, more power is needed for IPS LCD display.

Almost all solar inverters are fully weather-rated and can be safely installed outside. However, like any electrical equipment, solar inverters should be installed in a protected or shaded location to avoid extreme weather and large variations in temperature, which can reduce performance and lifespan. The life of a solar inverter will be significantly increased by locating it inside a garage, under a carport and out of direct sunlight. Most importantly, locations exposed to the hot afternoon sun should always be avoided. If direct sunlight cannot be avoided, a protective sun cover will help prolong the life of the inverter.

A common grid-connected solar system - DC power from a string of solar panels is converted to AC power by the solar inverter which can be used either by the home appliances or fed into the electricity grid.

Solar panels can also develop problems or suffer from excessive degradation over time which can result in poor performance. However, unlike a faulty inverter, degradation of solar panels will generally not result in a complete system shutdown, that being said, we do recommend using only reputable solar panel brands from a reliable installer. With this in mind, it is worthwhile paying the additional cost for a quality inverter brand and one which has been in good business standing for 5+ years and with extended warranties if available.

This review focuses on common "string" solar inverters,the most popular type of solar inverter. These inverters are connected to a string of solar panels linked together in series. String inverters are the most common type of inverter used in the UK, Europe, Australia, & Asia, and are growing in popularity in the US, where micro inverters are very popular.Hybrid Inverters

Small-scale and DIY off-grid systems use simple MPPT solar charge controllers, also known as solar regulators.These are not inverters but DC solar battery chargers connected between the solar panel/s and battery to regulate the battery charging process and ensure the battery is charged correctly, or more importantly, not over-charged.

Micro inverters, also known as micros, are very small solar inverters attached directly to individual solar panels. Since each micro inverter and panel operate independently, they are a great option for complex roof layouts and locations with shading. Despite the slightly higher cost, micros are very popular in North America due to Enphase’s strong presence. They are becoming more popular worldwide due to the several advantages they offer over string solar inverters.

In this review, we place a strong emphasis on system monitoring as well as electricity consumptionmonitoring which is an essential part of a modern solar system. Most modern inverters can track both solar generation and household consumption with an additional energy meter. Learn more about the importance of consumption and system monitoring.

Wifi monitoring comes standard with all inverters via the Fronius Solarweb. The addition of the Fronius Smart meter enables monitoring of energy generation and consumption and can be used as a complete home energy monitoring system. The Fronius Solarweb app is an easy to use app which displays solar generation, consumption and estimated savings. The analysis section offers detailed operating statistics like string current and grid voltage. However, only 3 days of consumption monitoring data can be accessed without a premium subscription to the Fronius Solarweb. The premium upgrade offers some great features but considering most competing platforms offer free usage and generation history, this is a little disappointing.

SolarEdgeinverters have become increasingly popular in Australia, the USA and around the world over the last few years due to the unique design using DC optimiserswhich enables individual solar panel level power optimisation and control.

The compact SolarEdge HD wave (SE-H series) inverters are available in a wide range of sizes from 2.5kW to 10kW. All Solaredge inverters must be installed with an additional DC optimiser fitted to each panel. The optimisers perform part of the job of a typical string inverter but have several benefits including panel-level monitoring and power optimisation.

SolaredgeDC Optimisers are small electronic modules attached to the rear side of each solar panel which enable each panel to operate at its maximum power level. Panel level optimisation can also be obtained through the use of micro-inverters, plus some add-on power optimisers such as those from Tigo Energy.

Solaredge Optimisers also enable longer strings of panels (up to 22 modules), offer rapid shutdown for increased safety, help reduce the detrimental effects of shading, and can provide early detection of potential issues. However, optimisers also add more complexity to the system and any electronic device mounted on the roof also has the potential to cause issues in the longer term. SolarEdge also has an extended 12 year warranty period.

SolarEdge inverters have "optional" wifi which together with the optimisers can provide power output data for each panel individually. This is great for both system monitoring and a very good tool for fault detection, especially for installers. Also SolarEdge definitely have one of the best smart phone apps for remote system monitoring. See the full SolarEdge monitoring system and features here.

The first generation residential inverter from Huawei was the SUN2000L, available in a range of sizes from 2kW to 5kW while the updated version was released in 2020. Like the first version, the new SUN2000L1 inverter also functions as a hybrid inverter but works with the more powerful SUN2000-450W-P optimizers and the new Huawei LUNA2000 battery system. The inverter is in some ways similar to the SolarEdge HD wave inverter which useoptimisers for individual panel optimisation much like micro inverters. However, unlike the HD wave, the Huawei inverters can function with or without optimisers. As a hybrid system, the Huawei inverter uses a built-in "high voltage" DC coupling battery interface which is compatible with theLG RESU-H battery and the new LUNA2000 battery.

SMA have a free online monitoring package called the Sunny portal and most SMA inverters now come with Wifi webconnect capability as standard. Full consumption and solar monitoring is achieved using the rather expensive additional Sunny home manager 2.0 energy meter. The only major downfallis the SMA mobile app which looks very dated and has received poor feedback, particularly the Android App version. However, the new SMA 360° App should make life much easier for installers when commissioning new systems.

With the FIMER takeover and positive feedback on the new range of UNO-TL and UNO-TL-DM-PLUS inverters, it’s likely FIMER will maintain and built a strong market position going forward. One of the highlights of the UNO series is the ability to accept parallel strings of panels with a very high 32A MPPT input current rating on of the two MPPTs, meaning it can handle a total of three individual strings of panels at different orientations.

The new FIMER Spa App and Energy Viewer monitoring platform is a big improvement and offers more detailed information when used with an energy meter. However, it is still limited and doesn’t provide a lot of technical data such as individual string generation or voltages, which helps with panel monitoring and troubleshooting. A Wifi logger card (VSN300) can also be installed on all older UNO and TRIO (3-phase) inverters to enable monitoring.

GoodWe, established in 2010, is a large, well known Chinese inverter manufacturer that offers a vast range of cost-effective solar and hyhrid inverters. The DNS series is a simple solar inverter with a wide MPPT voltage range and LCD display and has had great feedback from installers. It’s worth mentioning, Global electronics Giant GE has partnered with Goodwe to produce a range of high-performance solar inverters based on the 5 to 10kW Goodwe MS series inverter platform with up to four independent MPPTs.

The new H5A-222 inverter is a standout product with a built-in (certified) DC isolator, inbuilt energy meter, and incredibly low PV startup voltage of 35V. This means the inverter has a very wide operating voltage window and will start generating very early in the morning before most other inverters have even woken up. Plus the inverter can operate with only 1 panel (per MPPT); however, in practice, 2 panels would be required taking into account temperature variances. In contrast, most of the competition require 3 or more panels to start generating power. Delta has a 5-year product warranty as standard and an Australian office located in Melbourne.

GElaunched a range of premium residential solar inverters roughly two years which were developed in collaboration with Goodwe. While GE was already very experienced in utility-scale renewable power systems, it was a wise move to team up with an experienced solar inverter manufacturer like Goodwe and introduce some innovative new features, including a high-resolution colour display and up to four MPPTs for larger, more complex roofs. Other features include inbuilt export control and a high input current rating which is better suited for the larger, more powerful panels now on the market. Having been around for several years, GE inverters have had good feedback, and not surprisingly, the quality is on par with most leading manufacturers.

The GE range also includes some specialised inverters designed for the US market with rapid shutdown features compatible with Tigo and APS module-level add-on devices. There are also several hybrid inverter options similar to the Goodwe range, on which they are based. Consumption monitoring uses the same SEMS portal app as the Goodwe inverters and is simple to set up and configure. However, for those still who prefer a display for simple system monitoring, the colour LCD is one of the best out there and on par with the Fronius Snap-in inverters.

The new generation TL-X inverter range is modern looking and available in a range of sizes from 2.5kW to 6.0kW, with dual MPP trackers and a standard 5-year warranty, 10 year warranty options are also available. The monitoring platform, known as ShineServer and ShinePhone (app), is also greatly improved and now offers a good user interface, remote parameter settings, and remote firmware upgrades.

Solax Power is a subsidiary of the much larger Suntellite Group in China which manufactures solar cells, panels and inverters with a strong emphasis on research and development. Solax Power also has a strong global presence and an Australian support office located in Melbourne. The current X1 range of solar inverters may not have the sleek designs of the European rivals, but at close to half the price, you wouldn"t expect them to compete on this level; their slogan sums them up nicely "simple, reliable, efficient".

The latest generation of Sunway inverters, the STS series from 3 to 6kW, is packed with features, including an inbuilt DC isolator, integrated meter for export limiting (external CT), clear OLED display, and dual MPPTs with a wide operating voltage range. While Sunways inverters are said to be German engineered, they are very affordable due to being manufactured in China and backed by an industry-leading 12 year product warranty. The sunways monitoring platform is ok and offers all the typical generation data but is quite dark and can be difficult to read some of the charts.

LONGi Solar has grown rapidly over the last five years to be crowned the world’s largest solar company and manufactures a range of solar panels for residential and commercial applications featuring some of the latest solar PV cell innovations and new technologies.

We review the best quality solar panels from the world’s leading manufacturers SunPower, REC, Panasonic, Q cells, Trina, Longi, and Winaico and others offering the highest performance, efficiency, best warranties and proven reliability based on independent testing by PVEL.

Goodwe manufactures a huge range of solar and hybrid inverters for a vast range of applications. Is this review, we examine the full range and highlight the most popular models. Plus, we review the new range of batteries which featuer some great new innovations.

JA Solar is one of the top 5 global solar panel manufacturers and well known for producing reliable and affordable panels. We review the latest Deep Blue 3.0 range of panels which feature some of the latest PV cell technology to increase efficiency and durability. Plus we reveal the next generation Deep Blue 4.0X panels coming late 2022.

We examine the latest solar panels and explain how advanced PV cell technologies help improve performance and efficiency, plus we highlight the most advanced panels from the leading manufacturers. Learn about recent innovations such as micro busbars, high-density heterojunction and TOPCon N-type cells.

JinkoSolar was founded in 2006 and grew rapidly to become the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer in 2016 through producing reliable, affordable solar panels. The company is now pushing the boundaries with the new Tiger range of high-performance solar panels.

Looking at the market trends in LCD monitors for PCs, in the latter half of the 2000s, the transition from square to wide screens took off all at once, and currently, the trend has been towards larger screens and higher resolutions.

As of 2014, the best selling LCD is the 23" model supporting 1920 x 1080 pixel (full HD) display, but 4K displays that boast of four times that resolution are on rapid rise, and there is a new trend of converting to high resolution (increasing pixel density) without enlarging the screen size

Note: This is a translation from Japanese of the ITmedia article "ITmedia LCD Monitor Course III: Confused about HiDPI and Retina display? Understanding pixel density, an essential element in choosing displays in the age of 4K" published on December 11, 2014. Copyright 2014 ITmedia Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Over the next several years, it is predicted that 4K will replace full HD as the mainstream resolution. 4K, of course, represents 4,000 and refers to a horizontal pixel count of around that number. There are currently two standards for 4K resolution, namely "DCI 4K" and "UHD 4K.

DCI 4K is twice the 2048 x 1080 pixel resolution of projectors (4096 x 2160/approx. 17:9) and is the 4K resolution of the film industry. UHD 4K (also called UHDTV 4K), on the other hand, is the 4K resolution of the television industry defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has twice the horizontal resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixel full HD (3840 x 2160/16:9).

4K is a high resolution with twice the vertical and horizontal pixel count of full HD and refers to resolutions featuring a horizontal pixel count of around 4 million. The photograph is of EIZO"s ColorEdge CG318-4K. It supports 4096 x 2160 pixel/approx. 17:9 display, which surpasses the 3840 x 2160 pixel/16:9 (UHD 4K) display often used in 4K displays for PCs. Note the difference in horizontal resolution.

The reason the video signal is purposefully split into two screens for transmission is that the supply of display scalers (video processing chips) that can transmit 4K 60 Hz as a single screen was behind the supply of 4K LCD panels. For that reason, there was no other choice but for the early 4K displays to adopt the MST system.

These kinds of compatibility issues will likely be solved in the not-so-distant future as 4K displays become more popular and support improves on the GPU and driver side. Of course, these limitations only apply to 4K display at 60 Hz, so if you"re satisfied with 30Hz, the current HDMI 1.4a and DVI Dual Link are fully capable of 4K display.

As the resolution of displays grows increasingly higher, a new element to consider when choosing a display today is pixel density. Pixel density in displays is a spec indicating the degree of definition, and the value is usually expressed in ppi. Ppi stands for "pixes per inch" (not per square inch). An inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters.

Reducing the distance between pixels (pixel pitch) without changing the screen size of the LCD increases the ppi, and the higher this number, the higher the definition of the display. For example, at 100 ppi, there are 100 pixels per 2.54 centimeters, and at 300 ppi, there are 300 pixels packed within the same width.

As such, up until now, PC displays have been designed based on the assumption that the OS and applications would have a fixed display density (96 ppi for Windows). The 96 dpi standard is behind this assumption, and the screen size increased with the higher resolution of LCD panels (increased pixel counts), so it was safe to simply consider that the higher the resolution (pixel count), the larger the work space.

This is the conventional thinking with regards to LCDs. The screen size increased as the resolution of LCD panels became higher, so choosing a display with a higher resolution meant that the amount of information displayed at once was higher and the work space was larger.

The biggest advantage of this is that it enables very high definition display. Say, for example, you took a 24" UHD 4K display and enlarged the display so that the work space was equivalent to 24" full HD. UHD 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) has twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), so there will be scaling of 200% for the enlarged display.

A single pixel on the OS display that was conventionally displayed using one pixel on the LCD panel is rendered with four pixels (double the aspect ratio), so combined with the OS-side scaling function, it produces a very fine and smooth display.

This is the difference in how UHD 4K (left) and full HD (right) appear at the same screen size. The photographs of the icons have been taken at about the same distance from the screen. With UHD 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels), the display is enlarged 200%, and with full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), the icon is displayed at the same magnification. The size of the icons is roughly the same, but as you can see, the icon is displayed in higher definition with UHD 4K.

Of course, the enlarged display of the full HD-equivalent work space on the 24" 4K display introduced above is only a single example. If you want a large work space even if the icons and text are a little smaller, you just have to lower the magnification. On the other hand, if you want to have a larger display with improved visibility even if the work space is smaller, you just have to increase the magnification. This flexibility is another thing that gives super high pixel density displays an advantage.

This is an example of screen display on the FlexScan EV3237 desktop. At 100% magnification, the 3840 x 2160 pixel UHD 4K resolution can be fully utilized, but the pixel density is around 140 ppi, and the pixel pitch is about 0.18 mm, so it appears quite tiny from the normal viewing distance (left). When magnification is set to 150%, the work space becomes smaller, but the visibility of the text and icons is improved (right).

This is the Windows 8.1 scaling magnification rate settings screen. With a UHD 4K display, if you set it to "Extra large - 200%," the icons and text will be displayed at the same size as a full HD display with the same screen size. You can also adjust the text size of certain elements rather than changing the size of everything on the desktop.

When it comes to applications as well, the Microsoft Office 2013 (Windows)/2011 (Mac) office suite, major web browsers and other applications are starting to support HiDPI one right after another. Image editing software Adobe Photoshop Elements offers support as of Ver.13, and Photoshop CC has provisional support for manually setting 200％, so the foundation for full utilization of high pixel density displays has been laid.

Of course, products that are higher priced than the rest do not catch on, so the prices are coming down at the same time. The reason this is possible is complex and includes the improvement of LCD panel manufacturing technology, a substantial increase in the number of products adopting high pixel density LCD panels resulting in an environment conducive to economies of scale, and the rise of price competition between products featuring high pixel density LCD panels.

The table below summarizes the specifications of high pixel density displays. The pixel densities of PC displays are lower than those of smartphones and tablets, but in the case of PCs, the user views them from a distance of about 50 centimeters, so the high-definition display appears just as smooth. As a rough guide, in the case of external displays for PCs, if the pixel pitch islessthan around 0.2mm, normal use becomes more difficult at normal magnification, so the magnification has to be increased with the scaling setting.

There is also an active trend to move towards wide screens of 27" or more in pursuit of even more comfortable environments. That transition is split between those looking for a larger work space choosing 3840 x 2160 pixels (UHD 4K) or 2560 x 1440 pixels (WQHD) and those looking for a display with greater visibility at a lower price choosing 1920 x 1080 pixels (full HD).

At the same time, going in a completely different direction, EIZO plans to launch its 26.5" FlexScan EV2730Q display featuring a square panel with an aspect ratio of 1:1 in spring 2015. It is a truly unique screen size, but it features a high resolution with full HD stretched horizontally to 1920 x 1920 pixels, so there is plenty of vertical and horizontal working space. Considering the large number of users that use two full HD displays side by side, it will be highly versatile.

For example, the 23" full HD displays that are currently mainstream have a display area of around 509mm x 287mm, which holds one A4-sized sheet (297mm x 210mm) and leaves substantial surplus space. This is sufficient for web browsing and simple spreadsheets, but for displaying an A4 two-page spread in actual dimensions, it is lacking vertically.

On a 24.1" wide LCD supporting 1920 x 1200 pixel display (WUXGA) with an aspect ratio of 16:10, you can display an A4 two-page spread or A3 size (420mm x 297mm) image at the actual size on a single screen and have the menu and tool palette on the outside. The photograph is of EIZO"s FlexScan EV2436W.

When choosing an LCD in the future, it will be necessary to also consider the pixel density resulting from the screen size and resolution combination. As previously stated, super highpixel density displays basically require magnification with scaling for use, so high resolution (high pixel count) does not equal a large work space. This is a key point that needs to be carefully noted.

Thanks to the diversification of LCDs, users are able to be very choosy when selecting products based on their own uses, but the other side of the coin is that there is also an increased risk of accidentally purchasing a product that does not match your needs.