Display screens face challenges in outdoor environments

The outdoor environment presents unique challenges to display technology. Unlike indoor environments, outdoor displays must withstand:

• Extreme environments: Air temperatures typically range from -30°C to over 40°C, depending on geographic location.

• Direct sunlight: Causes the display to heat up significantly, possibly reaching 70-80°C or even 100°C.

• Moisture-proof and rain-proof: Waterproof and moisture-proof design is required.

Temperature requirements

Outdoor displays must operate effectively in both extremely cold and hot environments. For example, standard Hot Display screens have an operating temperature range of -20°C to 70°C, and some models are tested in special use cases from -30°C to 80°C. Proper thermal management includes predicting and checking the required temperature range during the R&D phase. In this way, we can guarantee the reliability and service life of the touch screen.

10.1 inch TFT color LCD/IPS full viewing angle/1024x600 resolution/10.1 inch high brightness capacitive touch screen/

LVDS interface/EK79001+EK73215 controller/Linux/Industrial control/RK

▶ Model: TFT-H101A9WSIFTKC40

▶ Type: TFT LCD

▶ Display content: 1024X600

▶ Display inches: 10.1"

▶ Dimensions (mm): 235.00x143x6.9

▶ AA size (mm): 222.72x125.28

▶ Product application: technical equipment, office equipment, operating platform

▶ Viewing angle: IPS full viewing angle

▶ Backlight type or brightness: white backlight 1000cd/M2

▶ Connection method PIN number: FPC-40 pin

▶ Interface method: LVDS

▶ Special instructions: Anti-static ESD 8KV

▶ Working temperature: -30~80℃

▶ Supply voltage: 3.3V

▶ Driver chip: EK79001+EK73215(TFT)

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Brightness and readability

High brightness is essential for outdoor readability. Hot Display offers industrial-grade displays with 1000 candela brightness, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. In addition, our standard models are optically bonded to eliminate internal reflections. This is achieved by removing the air between the touchscreen and the TFT (Thin Film Transistor). We also offer optional topcoats with anti-glare or anti-reflective layers, reducing the typical 4-5% reflectivity to 1.5% or even less. Hot Display offers you the opportunity to purchase displays without a minimum order quantity (MOQ). This enables you to immediately use an optically bonded test model in a cost-effective manner and decide if a special coating is required.

5.5-inch capacitive touch TFT/720X1280 resolution color display/IPS full viewing angle/NV3051F controller/high brightness capacitive touch TFT/MIPI interface

▶ Model: TFT-H055A61HDINVKC30

▶ Type: TFT LCD

▶ Display content: 720X1280

▶ Display inches: 5.5"

▶ Dimensions (mm): 76.0x140x0.7

▶ AA size (mm): 68.04x120.96

▶ Product application: technical equipment, office equipment, access control

▶ Viewing angle: IPS full viewing angle

▶ Backlight type or brightness: white backlight 1000cd/M2

▶ Connection method PIN number: FPC-50pin

▶ Interface method: MIPI 4L

▶ Special instructions: Anti-static ESD 8KV

▶ Operating temperature: -20~70℃

▶ Supply voltage: TP-VDD=3.3V, VIN=5.0V(Typ)

▶ Driver chip: NV3051F<TFT>, GT911<CTP>

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Moisture and waterproof

Waterproof displays are essential for outdoor applications. Proper sealing and selecting industrial-grade displays ensures they will function properly even in wet conditions. Hot Display's industrial-grade products meet these requirements, providing a rugged, waterproof solution.

Main functional standards of outdoor displays

High brightness and contrast

When choosing an outdoor touchscreen, ensuring visibility in bright conditions is critical. Outdoor displays must have high brightness and excellent contrast. Hot Display's IPS high brightness series has a brightness of 1000 candela, which can ensure readability even in direct sunlight, making it suitable for a variety of outdoor applications. In addition, we have also newly developed a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display. This new type of display can not only reflect the image to the viewer outdoors using natural light, but also can be read in dark environments through the backlight. This display has extremely low power consumption and is visible in sunlight, making it a very suitable product.

2.4-inch transflective TFT display TN 240x320px sunlight readable MCU interface/touch screen optional

▶ Model: TFT-H024A22AVIST1N40

▶ Type: TN display

▶ Display pixels: 240x320 Px

▶ Dimensions (mm): 42.72x58.65x2.61

▶ Display inches: 2.4"

▶ Effective size (mm): 36.72x49.26

▶ Application: C8051/Arduino/STM32 series

▶ Viewing angle: Normally White (Trans-Reflective)

▶ Brightness: 100cd/m2

▶ Pin: FPC-40PIN

▶ Interface: MCU 8080

▶ Special reminder: Anti-static ESD 8KV

▶ Operating temperature: -30~80℃

▶ Power supply voltage: 3.3V

▶ Driver chip: ST7789

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5" transflective TFT display TN 800x480px sunlight readable RGB interface/touch screen optional

▶ Model: TFT-H050A18SVRJDNN40

▶ Type: TN display

▶ Display pixels: 800x480 Px

▶ Dimensions (mm): 112.20x74.80x3.0

▶ Display inches: 5.0"

▶ Effective size (mm): 108x64.8

▶ Application: STM32/RK series

▶ Viewing angle: Normally White (Trans-Reflective)

▶ Brightness: 50cd/m2

▶ Pin: FPC-40PIN

▶ Interface: RGB

▶ Special reminder: Anti-static ESD 8KV

▶ Operating temperature: -20~70℃

▶ Power supply voltage: 3.3V

▶ Driver chip: T.B.D

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Optical bonding and anti-reflective coatings

Reducing reflections further improves readability. Hot Display offers optical bonding in its standard displays, ensuring minimal internal reflections from the outset. As mentioned above, anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings can further reduce surface reflections, maximizing visibility.

Durable and vandal-resistant

Outdoor displays must be able to withstand potential physical damage. Standard Riverdi products are equipped with 0.7mm or 1.1mm cover glass on the touch screen and 0.7mm glass on the sensor. This standard close to 2mm already ensures high resistance to external damage. In addition, it can be easily customized to 3-6mm or even 10-15mm, providing extremely high durability against vandalism.

Importantly, displays with thicker glass require the selection of the right touch controller to support the increased thickness. At Riverdi, this is not a problem, as our standard products are equipped with industrial-grade sensors and controllers.

UV resistant

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can degrade display materials. Ensuring components such as touch sensors, polarizers, and paints are UV resistant is critical for outdoor durability. Riverdi uses UV-resistant materials as standard to extend the life of the touchscreen.

Hot Display Display Solution Summary

Hot Display offers a range of display solutions designed for outdoor applications. Our standard touch panels offer the following features:

• Wide temperature range: Operating temperature range is -20°C to 70°C, with the option of an extended range.

• High brightness: 1000 candela display ensures clear readability even in direct sunlight.

• Optical bonding: Standard models include optical bonding to reduce reflections.

• UV protection: Selected materials are UV resistant to ensure long-term performance.

• Housing seal: A frame design is provided to firmly press the display onto the housing, ensuring a tight seal with the gasket in front. For mounting from the outside, other suitable solutions are available.

Related reading:

Method for manufacturing sunlight readable TFT LCD

Low-power display that makes electric vehicle dashboards visible in sunlight - transflective TFT

What are transmissive, reflective, and semi-transmissive displays?

Transflective TFT