heat tolerance of an lcd touch screen in stock

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Modern LCD screens have a great many uses. Not only are they now the system of choice for our home TVs and computers but their use in digital signage has made them a common sight in many shopping malls, airports and other locations with high quantities of people.
Even outdoor locations are no barrier to the use of modern LCD screens with outdoor digital signage a rising medium now seen in many town centers, car parks, front of stores and train station platforms.
All this out of home use means many screens operate in locations test the temperature limits of LCD displays. While waterproof screens and LCD enclosures designed for rugged applications provide the ability of the screen to operate-even in outdoor locations, one consideration often overlooked, is that of temperature.
LCD screens have a limited temperature range. Not only will the electronics inside an TV screen overheat and cause failure if the screen gets too hot, but the liquid crystal itself will begin to deteriorate under hot conditions.
The same is true of environments where temperatures fall below zero, causing a screen to stop functioning. A typical LCD TV has an operating range between 0°C (32°F) and 32°C (90°F).
Of course, many indoor and outdoor locations don’t suffer temperatures outside of this range, but many locations do and placing screens in these areas can prove challenging.
One of the problems with using a screen in hot locations is that the screen itself produces quite a bit of heat. When housed in an outdoor enclosure, the heat has to be continuously removed. While cooling fans combined with an air-vent normally carry out this task on an LCD, the need to prevent moisture from getting to the screen makes the task more complicated.
To get around this problem, specially shaped vents provide an exit for hot air while preventing rainfall and other moisture from getting in. In some locations where ambient temperatures are extremely high, screens need air conditioning to ensure they don’t exceed the maximum operating temperature.
In cold climates the opposite problem occurs. The need to keep heat in often requires insulation of the screen enclosure. Often this can trap enough of the heat generated by the screen itself to keep the internal temperature above minimum, but in some locations, even this isn’t enough. Heaters, controlled by thermostats provide extra heat in these circumstances, which enables the use of LCD displays in extremely cold locations such as ski-resorts and in Arctic regions.

Make sure not to push up against the glass or it will most likely crack the screen. What I do is cut through the adhesive, maybe some very thin flexible cards will cut the adhesive well.

Liquid crystal displays (LCD) have become an essential component to the industry of display technology. Involved in a variety of contexts beyond the indoors like LCD TVs and home/office automation devices, the LCD has expanded its usage to many environments, such as cars and digital signage, and, thus, many temperature variations as well.
As with any substance that requires a specific molecular characteristic or behavior, LCDs have an operating temperature range in which the device, if within, can continue to function properly and well. In addition to that, there is also an ideal storage temperature range to preserve the device until used.
This operating temperature range affects the electronic portion within the device, seen as falling outside the range can cause LCD technology to overheat in hot temperatures or slow down in the cold. As for the liquid crystal layer, it can deteriorate if put in high heat, rendering it and the display itself defective.
In order for the LCD panel to avoid defects, a standard commercial LCD’s operation range and storage range should be kept in mind. Without adaptive features, a typical LCD TV has an operating range from its cold limit of 0°C (32°F) to its heat limit of 50°C (122°F) (other LCD devices’ ranges may vary a bit from these numbers).
The storage range is a bit wider, from -20°C (-4°F) to 60°C (140°F). Though these ranges are quite reasonable for many indoor and even outdoor areas, there are also quite a few regions where temperatures can drop below 0°C or rise above 32°C, and in these conditions, LCDs must be adapted to ensure functionality.
Heat, can greatly affect the electronics and liquid crystals under an LCD screen. In consideration of heat, both external heat and internally generated heat must be taken into consideration.
Seen as the liquid crystals are manipulated in a device by altering their orientations and alignments, heat can disrupt this by randomizing what is meant to be controlled. If this happens, the LCD electronics cannot command a certain formation of the liquid crystal layer under a pixel, and the LED backlighting will not pass through as expected, which can often lead to dark spots, if not an entirely dark image. This inevitably disrupts the display’s readability.
Depending on the upper limit of the operation temperature range, LCD device can be permanently damaged by extreme heat. With long exposure to extreme heat, besides the destruction of the liquid crystals, battery life can shorten, hardware can crack or even melt, response time may slow to prevent even more heat generation from the device.
The LED backlight and the internal circuitry, typically TFT-based in the common TFT LCDs, are components that can generate heat that damages the device and its display. To address this concern with overheating, many devices use cooling fans paired with vents.
Some devices that are used in extremely high ambient temperatures may even require air conditioning. With air vents to carry the heat out, the device can expel it into the surroundings.
But this leads to another problem: how can moisture be prevented from entering through the vent? If moisture enters the device and high heat is present, condensation can occur, fogging the display from inside, and in some cases, short-circuiting may cause the device to turn off. In order to circumvent this issue, the shapes of the air vents are specific in a way that allows only for air movement, not forms of moisture.
In the opposite direction is extreme cold. What typically occurs in the cold is “ghosting” (the burning of an image in the screen through discoloration) and the gradual slowing and lagging of response times. Like heat-affected LCD modules, the extreme temperature can affect the liquid crystals. This layer is a medium between the liquid and solid state, so it is still susceptible to freezing.
An LCD device can be left in freezing temperatures because it will likely not be permanently damaged like in the heat, but it is important to understand the device’s limits and how to take precautions when storing the device. The standard and most common lower-bound storage range limit is -20°C, below freezing, but if possible, it would be best to keep it above that limit, or else there is still a risk of permanent damage.
If the device is not adapted for the cold, it would be good to keep it bundled up, trapping the heat within layers. However, this is only a temporary solution. Adapted, rugged devices have advantages such as screen enclosure insulation for heat level preservation and, in more extreme cases, heaters to generate extra heat to raise the internal temperature to a level above the minimum.
When selecting the appropriate module, it is necessary to understand the device’s expected primary application. The application will decide factors such as display type, environmental conditions, whether or not power consumption is a factor, and the balance between performance and cost. These factors can have an effect on the operation and storage temperature ranges for the device.
Display types have a lot of variation. Choices like alphanumeric or graphic LCD, human-machine interactive LCD modules and touchscreen panels capabilities, the width of the viewing angle, level of contrast ratios, types of backlighting, and liquid crystal alignment methods are often considered. For example, the twisted nematic LCD provides for the fastest response time at the lowest cost, but cannot offer the highest contrast ratio or widest viewing angle.
Environment-based factors must consider things besides the obvious temperature like UV exposure and humidity/moisture, as they all are necessary in finding the perfect fit extreme temperature LCD module.
Besides the LCD modules, recent new products have opened doors in wide temperature range displays, such as OLED displays. OLED displays offer better displays in regard to contrast, brightness, response times, viewing angles, and even power consumption in comparison to traditional LCD displays.
These benefits, in addition to its ability to achieve a wide temperature range, provide more options for consumers in search of high quality displays for extreme climates.

Noritake’s electronics division has been around since the creation of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display(VFD). We have grown to provide a wide array of products and services to ensure a smooth and efficient development cycle for your application. Our customer support staff will gladly provide you with technical support to assist with your needs.
We offer an expanding set of support tools for each of our product series, including code libraries and design programs. These tools work to accelerate the evaluation and integration procedures in order to have your prototype up and running as quickly as possible.
We are very aware of how important long-term support is for our customers and continue to strive to maintain a strong supply chain. Please see our GT Series Long Term Supply Policy.
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The use of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in user interface assemblies is widespread across nearly all industries, locations, and operating environments. Over the last 20 years, the cost of LCD displays has significantly dropped, allowing for this technology to be incorporated into many of the everyday devices we rely on.
The odds are high you are reading this blog post on a laptop or tablet, and it’s likely the actual screen uses LCD technology to render the image onto a low-profile pane of glass. Reach into your pocket. Yes, that smartphone likely uses LCD technology for the screen. As you enter your car, does your dashboard come alive with a complex user interface? What about the menu at your favorite local drive-thru restaurant? These are some everyday examples of the widespread use of LCD technology.
But did you know that the U.S. military is using LCD displays to improve the ability of our warfighters to interact with their equipment? In hospitals around the world, lifesaving medical devices are monitored and controlled by an LCD touchscreen interface. Maritime GPS and navigation systems provide real-time location, heading, and speed information to captains while on the high seas. It’s clear that people’s lives depend on these devices operating in a range of environments.
As the use of LCDs continues to expand, and larger screen sizes become even less expensive, one inherent flaw of LCDs remains: LCD pixels behave poorly at low temperatures. For some applications, LCD displays will not operate whatsoever at low temperatures. This is important because for mil-aero applications, outdoor consumer products, automobiles, or anywhere the temperature is below freezing, the LCD crystal’s performance will begin to deteriorate. If the LCD display exhibits poor color viewing, sluggish resolution, or even worse, permanently damaged pixels, this will limit the ability to use LCD technologies in frigid environments. To address this, there are several design measures that can be explored to minimize the impact of low temperatures on LCDs.
Most LCD displays utilize pixels known as TFT (Thin-Film-Transistor) Color Liquid Crystals, which are the backbone to the billions of LCD screens in use today. Since the individual pixels utilize a fluid-like crystal material as the ambient temperature is reduced, this fluid will become more viscous compromising performance. For many LCD displays, temperatures below 0°C represent the point where performance degrades.
Have you tried to use your smartphone while skiing or ice fishing? What about those of you living in the northern latitudes - have you accidently left your phone in your car overnight where the temperatures drop well below freezing? You may have noticed a sluggish screen response, poor contrast with certain colors, or even worse permanent damage to your screen. While this is normal, it’s certainly a nuisance. As a design engineer, the goal is to select an LCD technology that offers the best performance at the desired temperature range. If your LCD display is required to operate at temperatures below freezing, review the manufacturer’s data sheets for both the operating and storage temperature ranges. Listed below are two different off-the-shelf LCD displays, each with different temperature ratings. It should be noted that there are limited options for off-the-shelf displays with resilience to extreme low temperatures.
For many military applications, in order to comply with the various mil standards a product must be rated for -30°C operational temperature and -51°C storage temperature. The question remains: how can you operate an LCD display at -30°C if the product is only rated for -20°C operating temperature? The answer is to use a heat source to raise the display temperature to an acceptable range. If there is an adjacent motor or another device that generates heat, this alone may be enough to warm the display. If not, a dedicated low-profile heater is an excellent option to consider.
Made of an etched layer of steel and enveloped in an electrically insulating material, a flat flexible polyimide heater is an excellent option where space and power are limited. These devices behave as resistive heaters and can operate off a wide range of voltages all the way up to 120V. These heaters can also function with both AC and DC power sources. Their heat output is typically characterized by watts per unit area and must be sized to the product specifications. These heaters can also be affixed with a pressure sensitive adhesive on the rear, allowing them to be “glued” to any surface. The flying leads off the heater can be further customized to support any type of custom interconnect. A full-service manufacturing partner like Epec can help develop a custom solution for any LCD application that requires a custom low-profile heater.
With no thermal mass to dissipate the heat, polyimide heaters can reach temperatures in excess of 100°C in less than a few minutes of operation. Incorporating a heater by itself is not enough to manage the low temperature effects on an LCD display. What if the heater is improperly sized and damages the LCD display? What happens if the heater remains on too long and damages other components in your system? Just like the thermostat in your home, it’s important to incorporate a real-temp temperature sensing feedback loop to control the on/off function of the heater.
The first step is to select temperature sensors that can be affixed to the display while being small enough to fit within a restricted envelope. Thermistors, thermocouples, or RTDs are all options to consider since they represent relatively low-cost and high-reliability ways to measure the display’s surface temperature. These types of sensors also provide an electrical output that can be calibrated for the desired temperature range.
The next step is to determine the number of temperature sensors and their approximate location on the display. It’s recommended that a minimum of two temperature sensors be used to control the heater. By using multiple sensors, this provides the circuit redundancy and allows for a weighted average of the temperature measurement to mitigate non-uniform heating. Depending on the temperature sensors location, and the thermal mass of the materials involved, the control loop can be optimized to properly control the on/off function of the heater.
Another important consideration when selecting a temperature sensor is how to mount the individual sensors onto the display. Most LCD displays are designed with a sheet metal backer that serves as an ideal surface to mount the temperature sensors. There are several types of thermally conductive epoxies that provide a robust and cost-effective way to affix the delicate items onto the display. Since there are several types of epoxies to choose from, it’s important to use a compound with the appropriate working life and cure time.
For example, if you are kitting 20 LCD displays and the working life of the thermal epoxy is 8 minutes, you may find yourself struggling to complete the project before the epoxy begins to harden.
Before building any type of prototype LCD heater assembly, it’s important to carefully study the heat transfer of the system. Heat will be generated by the flexible polyimide heater and then will transfer to the LCD display and other parts of the system. Although heat will radiate, convect, and be conducted away from the heater, the primary type of heat transfer will be through conduction. This is important because if your heater is touching a large heat sink (ex. aluminum chassis), this will impact the ability of the heater to warm your LCD display as heat will be drawn toward the heat sink.
Insulating materials, air gaps, or other means can be incorporated in the design to manage the way heat travels throughout your system on the way toward an eventual “steady state” condition. During development, prototypes can be built with numerous temperature sensors to map the heat transfer, allowing for the optimal placement of temperature sensors, an adequately sized heater, and a properly controlled feedback loop.
Before freezing the design (no pun intended) on any project that requires an LCD display to operate at low temperatures, it’s critical to perform low temperature first. This type of testing usually involves a thermal chamber, a way to operate the system, and a means to measure the temperature vs time. Most thermal chambers provide an access port or other means to snake wires into the chamber without compromising performance. This way, power can be supplied to the heater and display, while data can be captured from the temperature sensors.
The first objective of the low-temperature testing is to determine the actual effects of cold exposure on the LCD display itself. Does the LCD display function at cold? Are certain colors more impacted by the cold than others? How sluggish is the screen? Does the LCD display performance improve once the system is returned to ambient conditions? These are all significant and appropriate questions and nearly impossible to answer without actual testing.
As LCD displays continue to be a critical part of our society, their use will become even more widespread. Costs will continue to decrease with larger and larger screens being launched into production every year. This means there will be more applications that require their operation in extreme environments, including the low-temperature regions of the world. By incorporating design measures to mitigate the effects of cold on LCD displays, they can be used virtually anywhere. But this doesn’t come easy. Engineers must understand the design limitations and ways to address the overarching design challenges.
A full-service manufacturing partner like Epec offers a high-value solution to be able to design, develop, and manufacture systems that push the limits of off-the-shelf hardware like LCD displays. This fact helps lower the effective program cost and decreases the time to market for any high-risk development project.

Onboard TFT LCD displays the screen in our life more and more applications, so do you know what the requirements of the car LCD screen? The following is a detailed introduction:
First of all, the working environment of cars is relatively complicated. In the morning, in the evening, in the summer, in the autumn and in the winter, in different parts of the world, cars are required to work. Cars are often exposed to the sun in the summer, and the cabin temperature can reach more than 60 degrees. The electronics inside must be able to work properly with the car. In some northern areas, the winter is so cold that regular LCD screens don’t work. These need to resist the high and low temperature of the LCD screen, for the owner to display driving information, escort.
You can see from this, the requirement of the automobile LCD screen is very tall. Under extreme conditions from -40 ° c to 105 ° c, it must be kept intact for more than 300 hours.
While the highlighted LCD display screen can work normally in extreme temperatures, it also needs to be visible and waterproof under ultra-bright direct sunlight. In addition, the GPU and the display screen of the LCD module will generate heat during use, and the higher the resolution of the LCD screen, the greater the heat. Therefore, it is also a big technical problem to develop a set of hardware products that meet the requirements of the vehicle. For these reasons, compared with the LCD display screen resolution of mobile phones, computers, televisions, etc., the display screen of cars is relatively conservative.
Now the LCD display screen technology has become more and more mature, the on-board LCD screen applications are more and more, the LCD display screen has been able to fully meet the changing working environment and work requirements ofthe car.LCD display screenshave made a big shift in automotive applications. With the development of science and technology, the development momentum of the onboard LCD screen will be very rapid.
The on-board LCD display screen adopts LCD technology, GSM/GPRS technology, low-temperature technology, anti-static technology, anti-interference technology, onboard electronic technology, and so on to display the information bar LCD display screen on the mobile vehicle, which is different from the ordinary strip LCD display screen installed in a fixed position. On the technical level, due to its special application environment, the requirements for the on-board long strip LCD display screen are much higher than the traditional LED display screen, which requires moisture-proof, rain-proof, lightning-proof, sun-proof, dustproof, cold-proof, anti-corrosion, anti-static, anti-interference, anti-seismic, anti-ultraviolet, anti-oxidation. At the same time must have over the current, short circuit, over-voltage, under-voltage protection, and other functions, in order to become a qualified vehicle screen.
As a more novel communication media of advertising information, the on-board LCD screen can not only store a large amount of text information, but also control the display mode of text and font through the built-in microprocessor to realize the display function of timing, and can also be moved and spread everywhere. It has completely got rid of the shackles of the traditional display screen and has the characteristics of mobile display, so it is highly praised by new media advertisers.
Through market investigation and analysis, it can be found that the audience of the onboard display screen is concentrated. Taking the on-board LCD screen of the bus as an example, it can provide important travel information and route information for passengers. In addition, the advertising effect is outstanding. Buses in cities are still one of the main means of public transportation, with millions of passengers taking them every day. It carries a large number of people, more than ten minutes on the bus “leisure time” is leisurely and boring. If it has a mobile screen in front to play news, entertainment, weather, advertising information, etc., then the active “cramming” media in front of it can attract passengers’ attention to the greatest extent, and it must be able to achieve good advertising effect.
Both subway strip screens and taxi car LCD screens have the common characteristics of a wide audience and huge market potential. Once the on-board LCD screen products are promoted and launched on a large scale, the media with large audiences and low advertising costs will surely attract the attention of many enterprises and advertisers. Government departments can also use the on-board Lcd display screen to promote public welfare, which has important significance and role.

The NEW DHT state of the art control system offers unmatched performance and full user configurability for water heater applications. It features a durable temperature sensor transmitting a millivolt signal through quality twisted shielded wiring. The signal transmits directly into the advanced PID controller, which in turn sends a signal to the electrically activated fully modulating and fast acting three-way control valve with high turndown to achieve accurate temperature control over various demand situations. The control valve can also be configured for straight through two-way operation when used with VFD pumps. Unit can also be integrated with Building Management System via Modbus and BacNet standard for remote monitoring or domestic supply water temperature control. Optional communications gateway is also available for other communication protocols.

Elo takes great pride in controlling many aspects of an LCD display, including brightness, contrast, color and other parameters. For more information about some of the parameters and tolerance expected from one monitor to the next, even when comparing identical monitors, please read the information below.
Analog video signal:Scalar needs to convert the analog to a digital signal and it’s unavoidable that there will be distortion of color performance in this process.
Color format:Different color formats can cause different color performance. RGB uses additive color mixing because it describes what kind of light needs to be emitted to produce a given color. RGB stores individual values for red, green and blue. RGBA is RGB with an additional channel, alpha, to indicate transparency.
Elo includes some basic settings in the On-Screen Display (OSD) to control the appearance of the display. The available adjustments vary with the type of monitor. Please reference the “User Guides” located under the “Resource” section on the product’s webpage. Check the following settings and any other options that can affect the picture:
Furthermore, the age and use of a monitor will affect its LCD screen. It is important to keep in mind that monitor manufacturers can use multiple part suppliers for the same products—two “identical” monitors might have LCD panels that are not from the same supplier.
You don"t necessarily want to set the monitors to the same settings. Even though they are usually close, two of the same exact monitors can show colors slightly different. You may need to adjust the RGB settings on one monitor to match the other. The best way to adjust them is to bring up a perfectly red screen on both monitors (use MS Paint because you can set the color just the way you want) and then adjust them till they look the same. Repeat for blue and green. Once you get it the way you want, write down the RGB settings just in case your monitor resets and you lose your settings.
Each monitor is tested at the factory, and the color is manually calibrated to ensure it is within an allowable range. Please note, the Elo warranty does not cover color uniformity differences between two monitors. In fact, both are in the manufacturer specification for uniformity.
Elo does “White Balance” to make sure all color temperatures (5500K, 6500K, 7500K and 9300K) are within the spec and records all of the data for each Elo monitor on the production line

GDT250T2080 is a 2.5 inch color TFT-LCD display panel, 320x240 resolution, wide operating temp. -30℃~85℃, suitable for outdoor or cold environment, 4:3 contrast, 6 o"clock viewing angle, surface anti-glare treatment, 18-bit RGB (with T-CON) + 4-wire SPI interface, superior display quality, wide range of applications.
GDT250T2080 is a 2.5 inch color TFT-LCD display panel, 320x240 resolution, wide operating temp. -30℃~85℃, suitable for outdoor or cold environment, 4:3 contrast, 6 o"clock viewing angle, surface anti-glare treatment, 18-bit RGB (with T-CON) + 4-wire SPI interface, superior display quality, wide range of applications, it can be used in any embedded systems,industrial device,security and hand-held equipment which requires display in high quality and colorful image.
1. When the metal parts of the display (shielding cover and back cover) are dirty (such as water or finger grease), please wipe it with a dry soft cloth. Long-term contact with water may cause discoloration or spots.
3. The IC on the display panel and module is sensitive to electrostatic discharge; please ensure that the equipment and the operator are properly grounded before and during operation.
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Electronic devices suffer from temperature extremes. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) of laptops, phones, and PDAs really do freeze. Laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range, typically between 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers to the optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using.
Never leave a laptop, or other devices, even in a well-padded and insulated case, in the trunk of a vehicle in cold or hot weather for long periods of time. The device could freeze, which can result in the loss all data contained within the device. Heat may also damage components.
Once you bring a laptop in from the cold (or heat), allow it to return to room temperature before booting. "Ruggedized" laptops are designed to work under extreme weather conditions. Standard issue Hampshire laptops are not "ruggedized."
Do not boot up an LCD display device if you suspect the display is frozen. Don"t use heating pads or other external sources of heat to warm up or thaw the display. Allow your device to warm on its own.
Do not use tools such as mug warmers or pocket warmers to heat or keep a laptop warm- likewise, refrigeration of a hot laptop subjects components to too rapid cooling. Devices not designed for this purpose can create problems as they will not distribute temperature correctly. They could heat the wrong parts or generate too much heat and melt internal components.
Laptops, cell phones, and other mobile devices are tools to help manage the details of life. Don"t leave your tools out in the wet and cold. Proper care and maintenance of your digital devices is as important as maintaining a car"s breaks—both keep you from crashing.
As computers have become more powerful they have simultaneously been generating more heat. Portable computers are particularly susceptible to overheating, so make sure yours has room to breathe.
All computers generate heat that must be dissipated to avoid damaging components. Desktop computers are large enough to include large fans and heatsinks, and some customized systems even contain water-based cooling systems. In contrast, portable computers are limited in the amount of space they can devote to cooling; add to that the fact that batteries generate heat when charging and discharging, and you"ve got a very delicate balance when it comes to managing heat.
Don"t use portable computers on squishy surfaces, such as beds, couches, or even your lap. (Look around and you"ll notice that computer makers no longer refer to their computers as "laptops," but instead use the term "notebook.")
Turn your computer OFF before putting it in a bag; even a sleeping computer generates heat and can easily overheat in the padded compartment of a carrying bag.
Do not place other components, such as printers, directly next to your computer. Leave enough room to ensure that the heat from one is not affecting the temperature of the other.
If your workspace is unavoidably hot (unfiltered sunlight or heat from a radiator, for instance), consider purchasing a cooling device for your computer. Many retailers offer stands that incorporate fans and air vents.
If you follow all of the advice above and still find your portable computer running hot to the touch (all computers will feel warm, we"re talking about HOT), it may be time for a professional to look at it. If it"s a Hampshire-owned computer, contact the help desk at 413.559.5418; students can bring their computers to the Student Diagnostic Center, 413.559.6602.

Stockwell Elastomerics is a leading provider of gaskets for touch screens, displays and integrated touch panel assemblies that serve several functions: sealing, load distributing, gap filling, mechanical shock protection and over-press cushioning.
The obvious location is to seal the enclosure at the edge of the viewing area of the enclosure. The sealing function can be for simple dust sealing, light water exposure such as occasional water drips or cleaning or even more aggressive outdoor applications where there is heavy water exposure.
Often a touch screen gasket or display gasket will help spread the compression load of the housing or bezel on the display. Without a gasket, the enclosure that holds the display in place can create pressure points on the display. In some cases, these pressures can cause distortions, false contacts or short circuits.
Similar to load distributing, touch panel gaskets are used to fill gaps between the screen and the display and/or the screen and bezel. The display gasket will take up gaps generated by tolerance stack-ups in the device.
Display gaskets offer some degree of cushioning to protect the display from damage due to mechanical shock. In the event that a device is dropped or banged, the gasket will act as a touchscreen cushion, offering a limited amount of protection.
Touchscreen gaskets also serve as display cushions when a user presses on the display too hard. The gasket deflects, takes up and spreads the load offering some protection from over-press or overloading in a small area.
LCD dust seals and touch screen dust seals are the most basic requirement of display gasketing. These are often static (not portable), indoor applications where the device is not to be exposed to water. Sealing can be achieved by closed cell sponge materials or fine pore open cell materials such as PORON urethane foam.
Portable electronics or touchscreens used by the public such as gaming touchscreens or indoor information kiosks inevitably will be exposed to some water. This can come from cleaning and beverage splashing, or for portable devices – rain. These electronic devices are also more likely to be exposed to mechanical shocks, such as banging or dropping. Closed cell or compressed microcellular foam materials will offer more protection against incidental, light water exposure.
Outdoor displays such as outdoor information kiosks, ATMs and remote monitoring equipment require more design consideration. To contend with environments such as direct or wind-driven rain, sealing an enclosure, case or housing from ingress requires the proper material as well as proper compression on the gasket. Silicone foam or silicone sponge materials are preferred. Silicone gaskets remain flexible at low temperatures allowing for continued sealing against melting ice and snow as well as protecting against mechanical shock where many other materials will firm up in the cold and transfer energy. Other key features are: closed cell structure, low-stress relaxation, UV and ozone resistance, and general long life.
Ruggedized electronics typically need to withstand much more aggressive environments. This may include passing rain or wash down tests such as IP65, IP66 and possibly IP67. Beyond sealing, they often need to survive the cold soak drop test, tumbling, EMI susceptibility, and a variety of other tests depending on usage. View more information on ruggedizing electronics.
Light leaking is sometimes a concern with certain LCD or LED display applications. This can be addressed with black gasketing with either a very thin adhesive or a black supported adhesive. A common material configuration for this is soft PORON urethane foam with 3M 9795B adhesive. The 3M 9795B is a film supported double coat adhesive with a black PET support layer that does not pipe light.
Touchscreen gaskets and display gaskets tend to have narrow walls that don’t always lend themselves to easy installation. This can be addressed in a few ways such as fixturing or utilizing the centers as temporary supports. The preferred adhesives for touchscreen gaskets and display gaskets are repositionable adhesives such as Adchem 8311M or 3M 9415 depending on the bond strength required. Stockwell Elastomerics also offers medium and high bond strength adhesives for permanent bonding. View the current listing of pressure sensitive adhesive options.
Most touch panel or touch screen manufacturers offer guidelines for gasketing. These typically show the active screen area, viewing area, and the gasket area. The manufacturer offers various recommendations on adhesive strength and gasket material type, but caution should be taken since each application will vary.
Broad recommendations such as “closed cell foam” do not take into consideration factors such as stress relaxation, compression set, long term sealing performance, outgassing, plasticizer interaction, cost, and manufacturability. Over-designing the gasket can drive the cost up, whereas under designing could result in damaged devices and leaks when the units are in the field. Stockwell Elastomerics can offer guidance on design and manufacturability of touchscreen gaskets or touch panel gaskets. Key design points include:
The interior opening of the gasket should follow the touch screen manufacturer’s recommendation that stays clear of the active area. The outer dimension are defined by the available space behind the bezel or in the case. A rough rule of thumb is that the gasket wall should be 1.5x the thickness. (Example: .062″ thick gasket should have a gasket with .093″ or greater flange width.) This allows for die cutting and makes for a stable gasket when installed. A gasket that is taller than it is wide tends to fold over during compression. The exception to this is when the gasket is captive in a groove.
It is important to keep in mind the clamping loads. While wider gasket walls generally seal better, the overall surface area is directly related to the loads applied to the LCD and touchscreen. Compression Force Deflection curves of various materials are available to aid designers.
Some housing designs allow the touch panel gasket to wrap around the sides to make a tighter fit in the housing. Wrapping the gasket also gives the touch panel assembly additional cushioning for mechanical shock.
Proper compression of the gasket is critical to sealing. A rigid bezel or frame is required to prevent bowing between fasteners. Softer materials can help offset this however there are some limitations. Closed cell gasket materials help prevent wicking through the material but may not be soft enough. Soft open cell materials can be used but require more than 50% deflection (.062″ thick deflected to .031″ thick) in order to close the cell openings.
The gasket thickness will depend on the designed gap in the enclosure, the fastening scheme, rigidity of the housing and the level of sealing required. Many touch screen gaskets are thin and soft but as the display gets larger the tolerance stacks typically get larger as well. This may require a thicker gasket depending on the fastener locations.
PORON microcellular urethane foams are designed for electronic applications, therefore there are many standards, off-the-shelf thickness and firmness options available. Further, PORON is cast to an accurate thickness tolerance. PORON in thickness of .062″ and greater is cast to ± 10%. This is a very tight tolerance for a cellular gasketing material.
Designing the touch panel gasket for manufacturability can keep costs down – both part cost and touch panel assembling cost. For mid- and high-volume quantities, die cutting is the preferred method. A steel rule die can be produced quickly and inexpensively to allow the gasket to be kiss-cut against the adhesive release liner. Kiss-cutting allows the gasket installer to peel the gasket from a roll. Kiss-cut parts drastically improve throughput during assembly as compared to individually removing a liner from a loose part.
Some OEMs and contract manufacturers prefer to have the center of the gasket remain in place, held in place with small, breakaway tabs. Leaving the centers intact allows for easier positioning on the display when a fixture is not being used. Low tack, clean peeling adhesive is needed.
Specification requirements help with material selection, for example, NEMA 4, IP 65 or IP 66 will require closed cell or solid materials in order to pass testing. Less aggressive requirements such as NEMA 12 and IP 54 allow for more material options.
Typical UL specifications are UL 94, UL 508 (UL 60947) and UL 50. UL 94 addresses a flame requirement, UL 508 (UL 60947) is suitability for industrial controls, and UL 50 and UL 50E are for gasketing. Other UL specifications may apply depending on how and where the end product is being used.

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Ms.Josey
Ms.Josey