Category: custom color LCD displays
Custom Color LCD replace discontinued Seiko TFT Displays
- Published on Thursday, 18 April 2013 06:00
- Written by Eric Hawkins
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A Custom color LCD may be your answer for some of the obsoleted Seiko-Instruments displays. Seiko has obsoleted several of their LCD modules and this has left many of their customers without a LCD display supplier.
- Has your Seiko Thin Film Transistor display (TFT) been discontinued?
- Are you a customer that needs a Seiko display to continue production of your product?
- Can Focus Displays help? Well, the answer to the question is ‘Yes’ and ‘Maybe’. How is that for a commitment?
What TFT LCD Displays did Seiko discontinue?
Below is a list of discontinued Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Displays that are no longer manufactured by Seiko Instruments.- 28QVF1H (2.8 Inch TFT Display)
- 35HVF0H (3.5 Inch TFT Display)
- 35WVF0H (3.5 Inch TFT Display)
- 43WQW3H (4.3 Inch TFT Display)
- 43WQW3T (4.3 Inch TFT Display)
- 43WQW4H (4.3 Inch TFT Display)
- 43WQW4T (4.3 Inch TFT Display)
- 70WVW2A (7.0 Inch TFT Display)
- 70WVW2T (7.0 Inch TFT Display)
- 70WVW3A (7.0 Inch TFT Display)
- 70WVW3T (7.0 Inch TFT Display)
- 70WVW4A (7.0 Inch TFT Display)
Segmented Custom LCDs offer Low-Cost LCD Solutions
- Published on Thursday, 07 February 2013 10:41
- Written by admin
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Low-cost custom LCDs are in demand now more than ever
Low-cost custom LCDs come in many shapes and sizes, offering basic or complicated functionality. Not everyone is looking for a super bright, 1,000 nit, color TFT LCD Module with the ability to display 64,000 color shades.
Color Segment LCD
TFT LCD Displays
Add COLOR to a custom segmented monochrome display
There is a newer custom color TN technology available that offers the same power saving as a custom monochrome TN display. The addition of color does not require any additional power.
What is a segmented custom LCD display?
A custom LCD segmented monochrome display contains a twisted nematic (TN) fluid sandwiched between two layers of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass. The fluid rotates one direction to block light and rotates back to its original position to allow light to pass through. These custom LCDs have a monochrome, single color, background with the segments being a different color than the background. A segmented custom LCD, may contain seven (7) segment, fourteen (14) segment characters and custom icons. There are two methods to drive a segmented custom display. The first method static drive, or direct drive, connects one pin to every segment. The second method is multiplex drive, which connects one pin to every four segments; the advantage to this is that fewer pins are required, thereby reducing the unit cost.Segmented Custom LCD displays are still popular
Segment Custom LCDs have been in use for many years, and show no signs of going away anytime soon. Custom segmented monochrome displays can be custom manufactured for a low one-time tooling fee. The unit cost is much lower than a TFT or Field Sequential Color Liquid Crystal Display (FSC).Segmented Custom LCD displays are not going away
Although custom segmented LCD modules have been in use for many years, they don’t look to go away anytime soon. One primary reason for this is that low power consumption is always in style. Custom segment displays are the second lowest power consuming display compared to Bi-stable, or Cholesteric displays.To find out more about Custom LCDs, please contact Focus LCD at 1-800-995-1824 for more information or visit us at: focuslcd.com/products/custom-lcd/
Custom LCD Panels offer Series and Parallel LED Backlight Options
- Published on Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:22
- Written by admin
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Figure below of Pure Green and Blue LED
In these examples we will be referring to LEDs, but the concepts of series and parallel are true for other electronic components as well.
Series LED’s in a custom LCD panel
An example of series wiring can be seen in the older sets of Christmas lights. The disadvantage of series configurations is that if one light bulb burns out, or is missing, the entire set will stop working. Then you find yourself up on a latter, in a rain storm, trying to figure out which of the stupid bulb burned out or came loose.Custom LCD panel with Series LEDs
The LED backlight used on you custom LCD panel can be designed and built in a series configuration.Current behavior in a series circuit
The backlight attached to a custom LCD panel may contain LEDs wired in series. Take for example that four LEDs are connected in series. Each LED will have the same current (amps) passes through each of them, in other words the current that passes through LED #1 is the same current that passes through LED #2 etc. So if a battery, which is connected in series with your LEDs, provides 3 amps, then the current though each LED will be the same 3 amps. This is true for one LED or 100 LEDs. The same amount of current passes through each LED.Voltage behavior in a series circuit
Voltage behavior for a series circuit used in your custom LCD panel is just the opposite of current. Each LED removes, or decreases, the voltage as it passes through the LED. This is called a ‘voltage drop’ since the voltage decreases, or drops, as it passes through the LED. A ‘voltage drop’ means that the voltage level goes down for each LED. So if your battery supplies 12 volts and you have 4 LED’s. Then each LED will draw or reduce the voltage by 3 volts(12 volts divided between 4 LEDs). If you reduce the LED count from 4 to 2, the voltage drop for each LED will now be 6 volts. (12 volts divided between 2 LEDs) The drawing below shows three LED’s in a series circuit.
Custom LCD panel with Parallel LEDs
If your custom LCD panel contains a backlight with Parallel LEDs, the rules of current and voltage are reversed.Current behavior in a parallel circuit
In parallel, each LED incorporated on your custom LCD panel, produces a current drop. This means if you have a battery that provides 6 amps and your parallel circuit has 6 LEDs. Then each LED will draw or decrease the current by 1 amp. If you reduce the number of LED’s from 6 to 3. Your current for each LED will now be 2 amps (6 amps divided by 3 LEDs equals 2 amps per LED)Voltage behavior in a parallel circuit
The voltage for each LED in parallel is the same for each LED. If you have a battery that supplies 10 volts, then each LED will have 10 volts supplied to it. If you have a 10 volt battery and 3 LEDs, each LED will have 10 volts supplied to each LED. If you take the same 10 volt battery and connect it to 100 LEDs. Each one of the one-hundred LEDs will have 10 volts supplied to it. Below is a diagram of a three LEDs wired in parallel.
Each option has its advantages and disadvantages for your custom LCD panel. Contact one of our technical customer support people for help with the design.
Custom LCDs Affect Profit Margins
- Published on Saturday, 27 October 2012 10:06
- Written by admin
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Custom LCDs enhance the value of your older products
Custom LCD products can make a big difference in consumer perception. In a consumer product, the most important selling feature may not be its primary function, but instead the customer’s perception of your product. This may be more true for consumer products than for industrial or commercial products, but the end-user of any product my notice the difference in appearance and justify a higher price tag. The best products, defined by sales dollars, are those that optimize the perceived value and perceived value which can be greatly increased by a visually exciting LCD Display. Implementing a custom LCD display that has been optimized for your product can increase the perceived value of your product, and could escalate your average selling price thereby increasing your gross profit margin. The LCD display you choose will probably be the same display as the previous model, and yet the LCD is the one feature that stands out most in your product. This is true whether your end product is an iPhone, amazon fire or a credit card reader embedded in a gas pump. The more unique the display you choose, the higher the perceived value of your product. Automobile manufactures have known this for years. Every year they release enhanced versions of the same car to increase its perceived value. Changes could include a new body style, instrument cluster or even a new sound system. Without these constant variations, they would not stand out against their competition. If you have used the same monochrome LCD for the past several years, your product can be compared to the Ford model T. Check to see if your competitor has invested in something a bit more colorful.
Variation
When comparing the LCD incorporated in your product to your competitors LCD, Ask “How will the same old monochrome segment display on our product compare against our competitors bright, colorful and unique custom LCD?”Design your custom LCD first
Many OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) select the LCD near the end of the design cycle. Be different; begin your new design by choosing your LCD technology first. Once you see what options are available to you; convince management to spend a little more time and money on the visual appearance of your product. By designing your own custom LCD, you can remove the limitations imposed by off-the-shelf LCD modules. Start with a blank slate. Take out a piece of paper, or AutoCAD, and design your next-generation product to set yourself apart from your competitor. With a custom LCD glass, this is exactly the power you have.Your Custom LCD reduces your cost
Is there an in-house manufacturing step that can be eliminated by incorporating the process into your custom LCD? Is their duplication of components common to both your PCB and the LCD? Why not reduce your BOM (Bill Of Materials) and include them into the custom LCD. The reduction in components on your mother board could reduce cost and save valuable real estate Custom LCD’s do not require a large upfront investment and for many projects can be quite affordable.Conclusion
One of the best ways to differentiate your product from your competition is by integrating a custom LCD into your application. There is a one-time tooling fee, but the increased long term profit margin could far outweigh this initial investment. Again, ask “How will the same old monochrome segment display on our product compare against our competitors bright, colorful and unique custom LCD?”
Custom Color LCD TFT’s ~ An Expensive Option
- Published on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 14:42
- Written by admin
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When choosing a custom color LCD, avoid TFT’s
There are different components of a TFT displays that can be modified to create a custom color LCD. Some of the modifications are not too expensive, while others can be cost prohibitive. We will cover some of the main options available and their estimated cost when customizing a TFT display module. Custom color LCD options include:- Custom LCD glass size
- Modified PCB(Printed Circuit Board)
- Customized touch screen/panel.
Custom FSC Technology
New LCD display technology
Custom color LCD TFT with modified glass size
This is by far the most expensive component of the TFT module to customize. There are industry standard glass sizes for TFT’s. The list includes, but is not limited to, 2.8 inch, 3.5 inch, 5.7 inch, 7 inch, 10.2 inch and larger. If you can design your product to make use of these standard sizes, then do it. If you need a unique size, say a something between a 2.8 inch and 3.5 inch, you may be forced to invest in a custom glass size. We have seen quotes for custom glass size TFT run between $100,000 dollars to $150,000 dollars. Not a minor investment for most companies. A second major cost to consider for a custom glass size is the high MOQ’s (Minimum Order Quantities). MOQ’s could be as high as 50K to 100K units per year. Not unheard of for a tablet for smart phone.Custom color LCD modification of the PCB
We have customers request a standard TFT display, but require the PCB modified to fit into a case. 
Custom color LCD modification of the touch screen:
Many products that incorporate a custom color LCD display will contain a touch screen or touch panel. These can be modified to meet a customer’s particular size for an estimated tooling cost of $3,000 to $4,000. Lead time for samples of the custom PCB is seven to eight weeks.* COG (Chip on Glass) FSC is a new type of technology and not recommended at this time. The most stable type of FSC construction at this time is a COB (Chip on Board)
