Backlight Options

Adding backlighting to an LCD enables it to be viewed in a variety of ambient lighting conditions - ranging from direct sunlight to total darkness. There are three main backlight options available for our LCD modules:

LED backlight

For character and small graphics modules LED backlights are most popular because of their long lifetime, high brightness and simple drive method.

EL backlights

EL backlights allow a thin module profile and provide uniform brightness with low power consumption, but operating lifetime is somewhat limited.

CCFT backlight
Cold-cathode fluorescent tube (CCFT) backlights are commonly used on medium and high resolution graphics modules. The thin CCFT is coupled with an acrylic light guide to provide an attractive, thin and uniform white backlight.

Notice: EL and CCFT backlights require external DC-AC inverters while LED backlights can be driven from a 5VDC supply.

Polarizer Options

LCDs are constructed with polarizer films on their front and rear surfaces to modulate the light rays passing through the liquid crystal layer. Depending on the intended application and ambient lighting conditions, different types of polarizers are used on the rear surface of the LCD panel. The following polarizer options are available for our LCD modules:

Reflective

Reflective polarizers are used in high ambient light environments or in applications where sufficient power is not available to drive a backlight.

Transflective

LCDs with transflective polarizers have both reflecting and transmitting properties and offer the most versatile viewing characteristics. Transflective LCDs can be viewed in direct sunlight and, when combined with a backlight, in low light conditions.

Transmissive

Transmissive LCDs always require a backlight and provide the highest brightness display. They are best suited for applications where direct sunlight viewing is not involved.