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A guide to selecting displays for your application.
By Marc Arijs, managing director at T
he vast array of embedded display options available today can make selecting the right display for a new device or product update challenging. From simple STN Graphic displays with serial interface to high-resolution colour displays with touch screen control, extra IO, Graphic User Interface (GUI) functions and integrated development environments (IDEs), the possibilities are endless.
While embedded displays may have a higher upfront cost compared to basic LCD/TFT displays, they offer resources saved during development, thanks to the integrated drivers, tested hardware and development environments, can often outweigh the initial cost.
For low-volume products, the convenience and can be invaluable. As production volumes increase, the unit cost of the embedded display also decreases, still making it a cost-effective option. In many cases, the advantages of an embedded display, such as reduced development time and improved product performance, can justify its continued use even at higher production volumes. Monochrome displays, though less visually appealing than colour displays, are less power hungry and generally easy to read in direct sunlight. LCD and OLED embedded display options remain available and may be the better option for the application. When choosing colour displays consider if a TFT panel or a wider view, high
The embedded display interface serves as a communication bridge between the display and the host processor. In some cases, the display itself acts as the host and the interface is used to communicate with peripherals. Common industry standard interfaces for embedded displays include USB, UART, SPI and I²C. Embedded displays can be equipped with or without touch panels. Resistive touch screens typically capacitance touchscreens (PCAP) enable multi-touch functionality. Many embedded displays integrate touchscreen commands directly into their Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for streamlined interaction. Thorough testing of the touchscreen response time, resolution and command integration is essential, as these factors can vary between manufacturers. Evaluate the IDE software for its robustness, ease of use and comprehensive documentation. The sophistication of
available commands will vary between manufacturers. Ensure that the IDE includes the necessary commands for your application. Some applications will only require simple commands while others will be highly graphic dependent. Depending on the application, consider if the software includes commands such as fonts and character size, picture and text rotation, multi-language support, Unicode compatibility, display of gauge instruments and plotting graphs, loading multiple screens, overlaying transparent or semi-transparent screens, partly or the whole screen update speed, text on graphic modes, mathematical function, read/write of digital and analogue I/O, CAN or Modbus functions.
If the IDE has a display simulator, this can eliminating the need for frequent code uploads to the embedded display. Consider how updates will be installed once the product is deployed. Determine if these updates are performed from an SD card, via the host device or from the IDE. Demo and starter kits are a great way to start experimenting with the display without the need to design additional hardware. Check if the manufacturer or distributor can offer technical support, ideally UK based support. Select a manufacturer who has a good reputation for longevity of supply. While all display products can eventually become obsolete, reputable embedded display manufacturers can offer drop-in replacements that maintain compatible with the original setup.
20 SEPTEMBER 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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