heat tolerance of an lcd touch screen supplier

There are several industrial applications that require LCD displays to operate in extreme temperature environments such as in military, food processing, gas/fuel pumps, medical, manufacturing, and non-climate-controlled facilities, among others. Take note that typical monitors can only be used in environments with 0�C~50�C temperature range. UV exposure, moisture, and humidity also affect the overall temperature within a specific environment. iTech Company offers a range of LCD monitors that can function properly in a wide working temperature range from -30℃ to +80℃. These products are already proven and tested to maintain its original luminance under such temperatures.

While the range of operating temperature is a relevant consideration for the device to withstand extreme hot or cold environments, other factors must also be taken into account for the overall performance of the device. These includethe clarity of the image, environmental protection, LED backlighting, quality of the components, andvarious options available.

iTech Company’s products are equipped with these useful features to deliver great performance even in harsh working conditions. These are available in different monitor sizes and resolutions. It offers superior image quality with wide viewing angle. Some of the optional features include the touch screen functionality for interactive application and the level of brightness to ensure that the screen content is highly visible in all lighting conditions. Moreover, these wide operating temperature LCD displays are available in different types including open frame, panel mount, andchassis mount.

On the other hand, iTech Company also provides a customized design for its clients, which is a perfect solution for OEM customers. Just give us your specifications and we’ll come up with a product that will work great for your application.

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ImportantAnalogue resistive touch screens are rarely designed for temperatures well above or below zero. Our ULTRA GFG Touch is specified for temperatures from -40 degrees up to +75 degrees Celsius.

Many manufacturers specify their touch panels for standard temperature ranges from 0 degrees up to +35 degrees Celsius. This is usually sufficient for interior applications. Extended temperature requirements are generally defined from 0 degrees up to +50 degrees Celsius. Some manufacturers go even further and declare their standard resistive touch screens from -10 degrees up to +55 degrees Celsius.

Such touch screen are not suitable for outdoor use or the use in some desert or industrial environment, where temperatures can easily reach even higher or lower levels. Even in the extended temperature range, our patented ULTRA glass-film-glass technology is quite unique: already in the standard version, it is specified from -40 degrees up to +75 degrees Celsius and can be further protected by applying various filters to meet specific customer requirements.

Recent test reports, which we prepare on request of the customer, can be downloaded below. In this particular case, the customer selected the temperature range of -25 up to +70 to be tested.

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.

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.

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Ingress Protection (IP) Rating is critical to evaluate the environments in which our full range of LCD monitors will be used. This rating classifies the amount of protection our enclosed LCD monitor has against the intrusion of foreign objects that could cause damage, falter, and safety issues. IP Rating is two numeral designation rate protection based on solid objects (dust, soil, contaminants, etc.) and liquid ingress (water, or other fluid substance). With this rating, users can know exactly how protected our LCD monitor is. IP ratings are specified with two digits, IPXX. The first digit defines the protection from solids, and the second digit defines the protection from liquids. For instance, our Panel Mount Sunlight Readable display has a front IP rating of 65 meaning that it would be completely protected from dust, and low water jet spraying in all directions.

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.

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Try using heat resistant lcd found on Alibaba.com to make many types of production jobs faster and easier. Each model can be filled with different types of liquid and quickly dispensed into containers. Use heat resistant lcd to fill paint cans with speed and precision. Other compatible fluids include resin or glue, making such devices suitable for manufacturing all kinds of helpful products.

All heat resistant lcd are built to be easy to operate, reducing labor and training times needed. Some versions can pour food-grade liquids such as beer or milk into bottles for future sealing. Most units work automatically so workers can program them and stay back as they work on their own. When installed on a factory floor, they offer greater efficiency to help save time and costs.

Shop for heat resistant lcd at Alibaba.com to find many helpful suppliers with a wide range of options that can be ordered. Choose just the right size to fit the intended workspace. Pick a wattage level that promises good speed and power without using too much electricity and driving up costs. Certain designs can dispense products in the form of powder or granules into nearby containers. Use these to package particular powdered food and pharmaceutical ingredients.

Search for heat resistant lcd on Alibaba.com and enjoy lower costs when working with various liquids or powders. Whether for use in food manufacturing or building materials, there are plenty of options to browse. Find a satisfactory brand that will improve efficiency for better overall quality in each final product.

Since 1986, Broadax Systems, Inc. has been a leading industrial computer systems manufacturer and customized solutions provider. We offer high performance and high quality industrial computers such as industrial rackmount computers, lunchbox style portable computers, low profile embedded computers, touch screen panel PCs, and rackmount LCD keyboard drawers.

Customer satisfaction as well as guaranteeing high performance solutions that meet your requirements is Broadax Systems" top priority. As a valued Broadax Systems" customer, you are entitled to the same services and advanced computing solutions as our Fortune 500 customers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Harris.

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.

SCADA is an integral part of a business, not just its operations. The flow of data from the control room to the board room must be seamless. In the past, supervisory control and manufacturing information systems have not been integrated. This is changing and companies are realizing both investments only achieve their full potential when they are capable of seamlessly working together.

We offer all the components you need to create your own unique level of supervisory data acquisition and control, from the simplest stand-alone machine to sophisticated multi-device networked production line(s), all the way to enterprise-level operations and IIoT functionalities leveraging cloud connectivity.

Clearview™ transparent heating elements are an optically clear variation of our wire-wound heater that provides superior light transfer with higher durability than comparable technologies.

The wire-wound design brings high heating efficiency and quick thermal response with minimal power consumption. This makes Clearview LCD screen heaters ideal for applications such as computers, battery powered hand scanners, and touch screens.

Optically clear heaters are typically used in applications that require a high degree of light transmission. Clearview"s ultra-fine wire construction gives high optical clarity and ensures optimal light transmission for scanning and imaging applications.

Clearview provides controlled, direct heat to displays, lenses and clear panels, allowing continuous high definition operation of device monitors in low temperature environments. With an LCD screen heater, displays and touch screens remain usable in cold, high humidity/low dew point environments and locations where ambient temperature can change quickly.

Engineering services and consultation are available on every custom heating element order. Contact a specialist today for details about Clearview optically clear transparent LCD screen heaters.

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.