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High-brightness displays
What it takes to take the screen outside
Photo courtesy Samsung
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High-brightness displays: What it takes to take the screen outside
M
any of the most compelling uses for digital signage involve the placement of screens outdoors, or indoors in highambient-light conditions, such as near a window. In both of those cases, the challenge for providing the highest-quality picture on a digital sign increases, mainly because of the ambient light.
By Bill Yackey
Editor, Digital Signage Today
Nearby ambient light shining on a screen directly impacts the light produced by the display itself the result of that impact is less contrast and washed-out images and colors. The images then become very difficult to read, and the viewing angle becomes reduced due to the lower contrast level
When a screen is used outdoors, the problem becomes much worse,
said Andy Weis, of Samsung. Some types of sunlight can have devastating effects on a screen, and not just by washing out the picture.
Direct sunlight, in the form of high-brightness-standard Visible Light (VL),
Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared(IR), can have the following effects on a unit:
VL: Washed-out colors, lower contrast and lower viewing angles. There are no damages associated with this spectrum of light.
UV: Discoloration over time, in the form of yellowing or graying of the
LCD surface and the image being produced. This
UV damage is permanent and should be avoided.
High brightness screens are designed to emit more light,
which means more luminance and contrast, than traditional commercial-grade screens.
High brightness screen
IR: Internal heat buildup, tiger-stripe or Muratype dark and grey bands on the image being displayed. The IR damage can be either temporarily or permanent, depending on the
