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Seiko has retreated from the LCD and TFT business | A Custom LCD can be the answer
- Published on Wednesday, 10 April 2013 06:00
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A custom LCD can be the answer
Has your Seiko Graphic display been discontinued? Seiko has retreated from the LCD and TFT business. We may be able to help. We offer custom LCD design services to provide you with a replacement to your Seiko LCD. Seiko LCD Displays has discontinued many of their LCD modules and this has left several of their customers without a LCD display supplier.What LCD Displays did Seiko discontinue?
Below is a list of discontinued Graphic Liquid Crystal Displays that are no longer manufactured by Seiko Instruments. These part numbers are the root part numbers only, meaning that these do not call out backlight type, temperature range, fluid type etc.- G121300N000 (122×32 Graphic LCD Display)
- G1213B1N000 (122×32 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z20A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z21A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z22A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z25A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z26A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
- SA001Z27A (128×64 Graphic LCD Display)
What obstacles arise when designing a custom LCD to replace the obsolete Seiko module?
Some of the available LCD options, such as bezel size, modified cable length and others, my require a custom LCD tooling fee or may no longer be available. There are two main challenges we face when designing and building a custom LCD to replace obsoleted Seiko Displays; Cold Cathode Florescent or CCFL backlights have been discontinued, due to environmental concerns and many controller drivers have been obsoleted.Discontinued CCFL backlights
CCFL backlights have reached their end of life. In fact, they have been extinct for some time. These backlights were very common for larger size Seiko graphic LCD Displays. When a customer needs a drop in equivalent, we suggest they switch from CCFL to an LED backlight. This is not a 100% equivalent display and the main difference being the CCFL is Alternating Current (AC) and LED is Direct Current (DC). To remedy the change from CCFL to LED, an inverter needs to be inserted between the AC signal and the inputs of LED backlight. Sometimes there is not enough room on the LCDs printed circuit board (PCB). When this happens the customer may need to supply the inverter on their PCB. Another possible remedy is that the customer’s product may already have a DC voltage being supplied on their board and only need a charge pump (or booster circuit) to match the voltage of the PCB to the LED backlight.Many Graphic LCD Controller drivers have been phased out
Another challenge is that many of the controller drivers used on Seiko LCD’s are no longer available and would need to be replaced with an equivalent IC. This is not an exclusive issue with Graphics displays, but occurs with character modules and Thin Film Transistor (TFT) modules. When a controller driver is label as equivalent, this does not guarantee that it will be 100% interchangeable. Sometimes the customer’s firmware needs to be modified to make the new IC compatible. This could prove to be a large problem if you are in need of replacement displays that are in the field.
Need a replacement to your Seiko Graphic LCD display. Start with our engineering support center.
Custom segment LCD displays available in static and multiplex drives
- Published on Wednesday, 03 April 2013 06:00
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Drive options for a custom segmented LCD module
There are two drive types available for a custom segmented LCD module. Direct drive or static and multiplex drive. There is no difference in tooling cost between the two. Before we explain the difference between direct and multiplex, let’s talk about segments. Figure one below is a custom segmented LCD module. The number ‘8’ is made up of seven (7) independent segments and a decimal point. Each one of these segments can be turned on and off individually. This allows the user to create any number and many letters such as ‘E’, ‘F’, ‘L’ and others.
Figure two shows a custom segment LCD with leads or pins that are coming off the side of the LCD glass. These pins are connected to the segments.
Direct Drive Custom Segment LCD
Direct drive custom segmented LCDs contain one pin for every segment plus supporting pins such as power, ground and COM’s. Figure one shows eight segments, this would require a total of eight pins for the segments, plus supporting pins. Figure two shows an LCD with eight number ‘8’s. This equates to 8 numbers multiplied by 7 segments per number, which equals 56 segments. If you were to use direct drive on this display, you would need 56 pins plus supporting pins. The higher quantity of pins not only increases the size of the display , since you will need a larger display to hold all the leads, but it also increases the unit cost and the amount of time to install the LCD on a printed circuit board (PCB) One advantage of direct drive custom segmented LCD is that it offers the sharpest contrast, because the segment is on 100% of the time.Multiplex Custom Segment LCD
The most common type of multiplex LCD display used on a custom segment LCD is called a 4:1 mux. The means that there is one pin for every four segments. The advantage of this configuration is that it reduces the number of pins by 75%. Add up all the segments and divide by four and you arrive at the number of pins necessary, plus supporting pins. The display in figure two would require an estimated 56 segments divided by 4 for a total of 14 pins. With the additional supporting pins the number of pins would be closer to 20. One down side to a multiplex custom segmented LCD is the reduced LCD contrast. On a direct drive each segment is on 100% of the time, in a 4:1 mux configuration, each segment is on 25% of the time. The reduced sharpness is not very noticeable and difficult for the human eye to notice.
Custom LCDs shipped via FedEx
- Published on Saturday, 30 March 2013 09:05
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What are some of the things you should look for when interviewing a custom LCD supplier?
Choosing a dependable supplier of custom LCDs is not only important, it is critical. You need a supplier that understands custom LCD technology and can answer your questions the same day you contact them.- Look for a supplier of custom LCDs that is located in the US. Although most custom LCDs are manufactured off-shore, you will want to work with a LCD supplier that you can call during the day and receive answers the same day. US-based suppliers of custom LCDs are able to provide suggestions for not only cost reduction, but provide same day engineering support.
- Look for a supplier of custom LCDs with short lead times. You will need samples of your custom LCDs ASAP. Many suppliers of LCD panels ship their product to the United States via boat. This can add weeks to your lead time. Choose a supplier of custom LCDs that ships all LCD glass by plane. This will reduce your lead time from weeks to days.
When shipping via boat/ocean, the custom LCD modules sit on the dock until a large enough quantity is reached in order to build a full pallet. This means that your custom LCD display may be completed and ready to ship, but instead it sits on the shippers dock for an extended period of time. By shipping via FedEx air, this allows us to reduce lead time by several weeks compared to shipping via an ocean liner.
Custom LCD panels replace discontinued Seiko LCD displays
- Published on Friday, 22 March 2013 16:14
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Discontinued LCD suppliers
We receive calls asking for replacement Seiko LCD displays. Seiko is only one of several LCD display manufactures who have pulled the plug on production of Liquid Crystal Displays. In the last few years, several suppliers of Custom LCD panels have discontinued many of their liquid crystal Display offerings. Some of these display suppliers have gone out of business while others have obsoleted lower profit modules. The list of these suppliers includes, but is not limited to, Seiko LCD Displays, AND LCD Modules, Standish LCDs, Orion LCD manufacture and others.Why are suppliers of custom LCD panels and standard LCD modules pulling the plug?
LCD suppliers, who manufacture both custom LCD panels and standard LCD modules, have only so much capacity to build LCDs. In other words, they can only manufacture a certain amount of LCDs every day. Once they reach that level, they have no choice but to turn away business This forces them to reject low profit LCDs in favor of higher profit displays. Older LCD technology no longer carries the earnings that are now available with newer displays. Another critical factor in the decision to discontinue LCD production is the acute labor shortage in China. This highly populated country now has more available jobs then there are employees to fill them. This produces a smaller work force and therefore a smaller number of displays that can be manufactured. A third reason that LCD’s are being discontinued is that the company simply goes out of business. If the supplier is carrying too much debt or finds that they can make more money in other products, they simply close their doors.Custom LCD panels to replace Seiko
Seiko LCD Displays’ has discontinued many of their Character LCD display modules. Focus Display Solutions is able to supply equivalent Seiko LCD Replacements. Many of these alphanumeric Seiko LCDs are standard off-the-shelf modules that do not require a tooling fee. But others may require a tooling investment to design and build a custom LCD panel that is a direct cross to their discontinued Seiko LCD. We carry sample stock of many of the obsolete Seiko character LCDs and in many cases are able to quote you a cost the same day you contact us. If you do require a non-standard display, lead time for custom Liquid Crystal Displays are between six to seven weeks for prototype samples and an additional six to seven weeks for production quantities.Seiko LCD panel part numbers
Below is a list of discontinued Seiko character displays. Seiko data sheets can be found at http://www.datasheetarchive.com/seiko%20lcd-datasheet.html- Seiko LCD module L1671 (16×1 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module L1672 (16×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module (16×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module (16×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module (16×4 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module (20×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module (20×4 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module L2462 (24×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module L4052 (40×2 Character LCD Display)
- Seiko LCD module L4044 (40×4 Character LCD Display)
What makes us different supplier of Custom LCD panels?
It is becoming increasingly more challenging for US-based manufactures to compete against foreign/off-shore manufactures. They need to daily review their process and look for ways to reduce cost, waste and delays. One of the great challenges they face is the discontinuance of critical components such as an LCD. We have been in the custom LCD business since 2001 and in that time we have learned a great deal of lessons to help our customers reduce cost, shorten time to market and deal with LCD’s that have been discontinued. What makes us different from other LCD suppliers is that we specialize in designing custom LCDs to replace displays that have been discontinued by other suppliers. Need a replacement to your Seiko LCD display? Start with our engineering support center.CALL TODAY FOR ASSISTANCE
1-800-995-1824
Custom segment LCD displays available in static and multiplex drive
- Published on Thursday, 21 March 2013 06:00
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Drive options for a custom segmented LCD module
There are two drive types available for a custom segmented LCD module. Direct drive or static and multiplex drive. There is no difference in tooling cost between the two. Before we explain the difference between direct and multiplex, let’s talk about segments. Figure one below is a custom segmented LCD module. The number ‘8’ is made up of seven (7) independent segments and a decimal point. Each one of these segments can be turned on and off individually. This allows the user to create any number and many letters such as ‘E’, ‘F’, ‘L’ and others. Figure two shows a custom segment LCD with leads or pins that are coming off the side of the LCD glass. These pins are connected to the segments.
Direct Drive Custom Segment LCD
Direct drive custom segmented LCDs contain one pin for every segment plus supporting pins such as power, ground and COM’s. Figure one shows eight segments, this would require a total of eight pins for the segments, plus supporting pins. Figure two shows an LCD with eight number ‘8’s. This equates to 8 numbers multiplied by 7 segments per number, which equals 56 segments. If you were to use direct drive on this display, you would need 56 pins plus supporting pins. The higher quantity of pins not only increases the size of the display , since you will need a larger display to hold all the leads, but it also increases the unit cost and the amount of time to install the LCD on a printed circuit board (PCB) One advantage of direct drive custom segmented LCD is that it offers the sharpest contrast, because the segment is on 100% of the time.Multiplex Custom Segment LCD
The most common type of multiplex LCD display used on a custom segment LCD is called a 4:1 mux. The means that there is one pin for every four segments. The advantage of this configuration is that it reduces the number of pins by 75%. Add up all the segments and divide by four and you arrive at the number of pins necessary, plus supporting pins. The display in figure two would require an estimated 56 segments divided by 4 for a total of 14 pins. With the additional supporting pins the number of pins would be closer to 20. One down side to a multiplex custom segmented LCD is the reduced LCD contrast. On a direct drive each segment is on 100% of the time, in a 4:1 mux configuration, each segment is on 25% of the time. The reduced sharpness is not very noticeable and difficult for the human eye to notice. To find out more about increasing the custom Segment LCD displays, please contact Focus LCD at 1-800-995-1824 or visit us at www.focuslcd.com.
