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component assembly & integration

AGDisplays offers a one stop shop solution for companies who are looking to design, build and/or source an LCD design and its components. We work together with customers to design a safe LCD assembly for their equipment in need. Safe assembly means a configuration that will provide an LCD unit that will not quickly burn out, interfere with other equipment and that will meet customer specifications.

Assemblies can be built around new LCD designs or even existing designs that have added performance needs. AGDisplays kits units and components together for optimal performance; optionally, AGDisplays will perform integration of components with the display units.

Component assembly may include various parts. Kitted units are most often created for customers who use them for developmental and evaluation purposes. Generally, builds can include products such as LED controllers, touchscreen options and drivers, cables and more.

Using AGDisplays for component design, assembly and integration allows customers to have complete control over the designed unit, down to selecting preferred interface signal.

This service saves customer time and money by alleviating the need to personally design a safe unit; AGDisplays allows customers to take a hands-off, worry-free approach, if needed. Further, AGDisplays sources all components needed, so customers no longer are required to shop, price compare and track lead times for various design components.

coverglass design & integration

AGDisplays’ cover glass design and integration service for customers looking to improve optical clarity as well as increase LCD strength. We offer different material substrates that each provide unique benefits to your LCD. On top of cover glass solutions, we offer to integrate a variety of optical coating solutions with the cover glass for added benefit and performance.

Cover glass options may be enhanced or treated for increased strength; they promote sunlight readability, ruggedize display, protect from EMI interference and enhance optical functionality. Futhermore, quality cover glass coatings can influence and control transmittance, resistance, absorbance and reflectance.

A cover glass substrate is integrated with a specific bonding method: OCA, optical or tape bond. Each bonding method has exclusive specifications. Depending on environment and application, an LCD will benefit from one of these methods. To learn more about bonding, scroll to see the FAQs for our OCA, Optical and Tape Bonding Services.

Our optical coating selections feature focused properties per coating, including anti-reflection, anti-glare, oleophobic/hydrophobic, transparent conductive coatings.

Depending on design specifications and the application environment, AGDisplays personally works with your team to distinguish which cover glass options are best for your LCD design. We aim to build a better suited quality design for improved LCD protection and performance.

AGDisplays offers various cover glass options to give your LCD specific benefits, depending on your application and design needs. Your LCD may benefit from the following characteristics: chemically-strengthened, scratch resistant, up to 7H hardness level, better surface quality, enhanced response, thin and light without fragility. See below for cover glass options available to you.

Chemically-strengthened soda lime: Soda-lime glass can be chemically strengthened to increase mechanical strength or heat strengthened/tempered to increase thermal shock resistance and mechanical strength. AGDisplays offers various enhanced soda lime options, so depending on design requirements, we do offer a suitable, enhanced soda lime cover glass solution. Soda lime substrate options include clear & tinted, grey glass, low iron soda-lime, anti-glare. If none of our substrate options noted match your requests, AGDisplays is able to source and integrate additional cover glass options for you.

  • Clear & tinted soda lime is a low cost cover glass solution and is flexible in terms of features. The substrates can be machined, optically coated, chemically etched, sandblasted, colored, or laminated.
  • Grey glass features increased privacy due to the darker tint, it may reduce glare; this solution is primarily used to restrict/reduce light transmission. Various color density options are available.
  • Low iron soda-lime features a transparent, water white glass, allowing for higher light transmission compared to normal soda lime glass. This soda lime option can be chemically strengthened; it features good flatness and no green tint, offering thicknesses from 1 mm to 12 mm.
  • Anti-glare soda lime glass can be laminated, tempered or chemically strengthened. This cover glass option blasts glare reduction, high resolution and superior durability.

AGD Dragontrail ™: This option has a wide range of benefits and is a popular cover glass option and is ideal for use in portable equipment like smart phones, tablets, and handheld displays & instrumentation. The cover glass is chemically strengthened and tempered, offering 6x the strength and durability over the standard soda lime option. The increased strength allows for manufacturing of thinner sheets for thin and light-weight devices. On top of durability, this cover glass is highly scratch resistant and environmentally friendly (arsenic-, lead- and antimony-free) with an ultra-clear finish.

Corning® Gorilla® Glass: This option is a thin alkali-aluminosilicate cover glass made with an improved native damage resistance. The cover glass has high scratch resistant properties and has superior surface quality. This solution is ideal for applications like smart phones, laptops and tablets, other touchscreen and mobile devices.

Polycarbonate: adds a layer of protection to your display. With options including hard coated polycarbonate to a strengthened glass, these protective screens run through rigorous optical criteria.

In conjunction with cover glass integration, AGDisplays offers top-lamination optical coatings to enhance viewer usability. These optical coatings are optional but lend a head to increased optical performances such as glare elimination, enhanced gloss, dirt and water resistance, and more.

Anti-Reflective (AR) treatment reduces ghost images, which are often produced in builds that have multiple reflective surfaces. These coatings are all dielectric single or multilayers and are designed for low reflectance and high transmittance in the UV, visible, and near IR spectral bands. Operating temperature for this coating is typically ≥300°C, and reflectance is as low as 0.05%; the surface is durable and easy to clean.

Anti-Glare (AG) reduces glare on a screen to increase readability. This film is matte, meaning it will not reflect ambient light. It also reduces fingerprints and smudges, preserving high reflection, even as smudges may occur. Along with low reflection and high resolution, the film also provides an added layer of display durability.

Oleo/hydrophobic treatment resists dirt, water, grease and oil to prolong and enhance glass performance. Oil resistant (Oleophobic) coating reduces adherence of finger-prints and smudges to help maintain pristine image quality even after repeated cleaning. This optical coating provides mechanical protection and repelling properties while achieving < 0.5% photopic reflection and high throughput. It offers resistance to severe abrasion and scratches. Overall, this allows surfaces to be easy-to-clean, and repeated removal of fingerprints while employing durability properties to prevent abrasion and scratches.

Transparent conductive coatings are high durable coatings that can be used in electro-magnetic shielding and electrical heating display applications. These coatings allow for low reflectance and are specific in their applications. Consult an AGD expert for more information on transparent coating.

custom screen print and glass

Combining custom glass substrates with a printed logo or custom graphic on your units lets users know your name and/or gives your unit a modern and professional look. AGDisplays offers this screen print and custom glass service to provide a durable and long-lasting solution. AGDisplays offers various ink options for logo/graphic customizations. Inks are available in multiple colors and range from low temperature epoxies to high temperature inks.

For increased efficiency and design, AGDisplays recommends adding touchscreen capabilities for a robust but cost-effective performance upgrade. Adding a hardened glass and touchscreen configuration gives your unit increased strength and jumps display performance from standard display to fast and intuitive usability.

Customized graphic printing is performed on a semi-automatic or automatic printer in a Class 1000 or 10,000 clean room. Ink types offered are epoxy/polyester or frit inks. Customers most often use this screen printing service to add custom black or color borders to display units for customizable unit artwork/physical attributes. Adding custom borders reduces the need for customers to add a bezel surrounding to the viewing area of the display as well as providing the finished black border modern LCD screen look.

Our print screen service assures part-to-part consistency in terms of print thickness, resolution and registration. Edge printing comes to within ±0.010″ tolerance. Graphics print with extremely good line definition, with a tight tolerance up to ±0.005″. Depending upon artwork, feature-to-feature registration is exact to print; or within a tolerance up to ±0.004″. Opacity of print is dictated by color and print thickness in addition to ink type (epoxy or frit). Typically, black would have an optical density between 2.5 to 3.5 or greater. Epoxy/polyester offers standard black and silver or custom color ink. This ink can print as fine as 0.127 mm.

Frit ink, offers standard black and silver or custom color ink. The durability of frit is higher than epoxy/polyester and has increased scratch resistant properties. This ink can print as find as 0.305 mm.

Graphics and logos are printed on a customized glass/substrate. The options and benefits are listed under Coverglass and Design Integration services.

AGDisplays offers a complete touchscreen/cover glass solution for a custom but quick and ready solution for those who need to add touchscreen capabilities to their unit. We offer a durable PCAP touch sensor with a finished border on the front cover glass; the stack up employs OCA bonding for a secure hold and increased ruggedization. The touch sensor is embedded behind the glass for component protection. The build has increased durability properties without compromising integrity of the technology involved.

This ruggedized touchscreen/cover glass solution fit panels ranging from 3.5 to 32 inches. Additional characteristics of a cover glass with an OCA bond include improved optics and readability, scratch resistance and increased strength.

drop in replacement

Drop in replacement service is for customers who need to replace an LCD when their original panel is unavailable or for customers who are looking for a cost effective, suitable alternative for their existing LCD. If you’ve received an end of life (EOL) notice from an OEM alerting you that your part will cease producti.

A drop in replacement unit extends the lifecycle of your unit in the case of EOL, damaged or unavailability of original parts. Using a replacement does not compromise on quality and compatibility and we ensure they are a top priority. Our design team makes your cost target a high priority without compromising on quality.

We have a secure list of trusted vendors with whom we maintain current business practices. Our International Procurement Office verifies product resources as well as the quality of the companies we do business with. Our samples are tested and verified before placing large orders.

If your team has decided on feature upgrades, we efficiently source panel specifications that meet your requirements while we integrate suitable upgrades—retrofitted into your existing design.

EMI shielding integration

What is EMI? EMI (electromagnetic interference) is the disruption of operation of an electronic device when it is in the vicinity of another electronic device. Each electronic device emits an electromagnetic field; when emissions cross, it may interfere with normal operations of the electronic device.

AGD’s EMI Shielding Integration service is for customers who need to block electronic interference between their LCD and the equipment that may negatively affect it. EMI shielding provides “immunity” for electronic components that are susceptible to EMI interference. Typical EMI shielding integrations involve installing a metal box to protect the vulnerable unit.

AGDisplays has several mesh and film solutions that allow for a passive LCD installation that will not intrude on electrical components or power consumption. Our film solutions allow optimum optical performance while providing a high level of protection.

AGDisplays offers various EMI solutions to our customers so we can meet any specification. Level of protection is custom, based off of customer need. The film or mesh solutions are a cost effective EMI shielding solution that does not involve integrating a bulky metal box. Integration is quick and easy, requiring no redesign, allowing for fast production. Service installs new EMI shielding, or replaces existing EMI system. While our transparent film and mesh solutions are our most popular solutions, AGDisplays also offers other EMI options to meet your design requirements.

EMI Film Solution: Our EMI film solution is a transparent conductive film. It can be used with a touch sensor and has a high visible transmission with low electrical resistance. It significantly reduces problematic EMI and IR emissions from a display surface and it features reduced IR transmission for solar heat protection. This solution is superior to ITO films at low resistance for transparency and mechanical properties.

EMI MicroMesh Solution: Our micromesh solution is constructed of woven wire mesh; it is considered an active enhancement, giving your panel a robust level of protection. Displays that are using this micromesh solution are bright and readable in all conditions.

FAA part 145 repair station

The Federal Aviation Administration has found AGDisplays in compliance with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 Part 145 for Repair Stations. AGDisplays employs a Part 145 Limited Airframe, Limited Accessories rating.

Replacing in-flight entertainment TFT-LCDs costs companies thousands of dollars. Even the smallest blemish or scratch can prompt an LCD replacement. AGDisplays corrects scratches by providing top and bottom glass polarizer repair for in-flight entertainment LCDs. With AGDisplays’ services, you can bypass the expensive replacement and take advantage of our TFT-LCD repairs. Repairing instead of replacing decreases extra expenses and increases panel longevity. A polarizer is a thin film on the top or bottom surface of the TFT-LCD that can be replaced using AGDisplays’ approved process specifications.

We perform maintenance and repairs to in-flight LCD panels in our facility in accordance with contract requirements. We employ Part 65 certified repairmen trained to inspect, repair, and approve airworthy LCD panels within the Repair Station's rating. AGDisplays maintains a technical library with OEM specifications, traceability documents and other technical information.

AGDisplays services have expedited forecasts, based on quantity of order and material. LCDs can be repolarized to return your scratched display to original form. AGDisplays has a minimum fallout rate, so you know our repolarization processes are efficient. We achieve low percentages by training technicians to no less than an exceptional standard. In our final quality control testing, we authenticate and record workmanship and data functionality on all LCDs leaving AGDisplays’ facility.

With our Air Agency certificate, AGDisplays ensures that programs, quality systems and methods of compliance are stringently reviewed, evaluated, and documented when it comes to the maintenance of FAA-approved articles. Companies looking for in-flight panel repairs can now contact AGDisplays to discuss capabilities and how we can serve you. Our dedicated teams are committed to becoming your trusted partner.

high bright integration

If you find your screen is dull and colorless, upgrading to high powered LEDs will breathe new life into your unit, allowing for a vibrant and long-lasting display. AGDisplays provides advanced high bright (1000+ nits) LED rails with high-output, low consuming to enhance display color and contrast; maximize efficiency and lifetime of your panel by upgrading to a stable design including high bright LED rails and a constant current LED controller.

Our LED design solutions are customized to your project’s need, with design options and flexible brightness customization. Design flexibility allows for edgelit design or direct backlight array options. Our Generation 4 LED rails provide high bright solutions while keeping a low environmental footprint. With small, powerful LEDs, our LEDs boast added protection with low power consumption.

LED backlighting is typically designed as edge-lit or in a direct backlighting arrangement. Both types have the LEDs concentrated into a diffuser source (light guide of the display) distributing the light uniformly throughout the viewing area. With an edge-lit backlight design, LEDs are aligned along edge of the internal light guide of the LCD. The backlight array may be mounted on one, two, or all four edges, depending on the size of the display and the amount of luminance required. With this design, light from the LEDs is captured and spread across the viewing display by way of the light guide. Benefits of this design include a slimmer profile of the product, lower cost of LEDs.

In a direct backlighting arrangement, LEDs are placed in a flat array behind the light guide and the diffuser plate. Direct backlighting works as a uniform source of backlighting, like most CCFL LCDs. One of the pros of integrating a direct backlight arrangement allows for local-dimming aspect, which means the display is able to dim zones behind the dark areas of the screen in fairly specific areas to make the image really pop, drastically increasing the apparent contrast ratio providing a more accurate color adjustment and enhancing overall viewing quality. Blacks are true black and grays are more defined.

AGDisplays is on our Generation 4 LED rail, white LED model. The LED technology boasts a high bright output and a low environmental footprint. With every generation, AGDisplays provides customers with the latest innovative technology on the market.

As LED technology advances, our high-powered LED rails become smaller, allowing for integration into slimmer and lighter designs. Overall LED lifespan reaches up to 100,000 hours. LED upgrades also provide for better environmental protection against shock and vibration, extreme humidity and frigid temperatures. What’s more, our LED rail technology is environmentally safe and ROHS-compliant; they are mercury- and lead- free and have reduced EMI emissions.

Compact and rugged, LEDs are extraordinarily resistant to shock and vibration; they are free of glass and other small, breakable parts. Given the nature of the LED, there is almost no limit to shape and size in which they can be manufactured. If your new or existing panel design contains CCFL or LED backlighting, be sure to consider upgrading to the latest high bright LED technology.

Thermal design considerations are very important; integrating an LED backlight typically requires heat management. It is necessary to dissipate operating heat as efficiently as possible, keeping sensitive LED components safe from thermal damage created by dissipation of current. Inefficient heat management can damage or shorten the life of an LED backlight. AGDisplays continually inspects the value and quality of our products. With each integration of our latest generation LED technology, we also integrate high efficient heat management technology to preserve the lifespan of your LED.

industrial repairs

Industrial repair utilizes all facets of AGDisplays capabilities. We repair most aspects of LCD technologies so that our customers do not have to replace whole units for minor repairs. AGDisplays also provides repair warranty services for panels that are no longer under OEM warranty.

Our repair service aims to meet or succeed your already existing data specification. We aim to extend the life of your product, to keep maintenance costs down and to work efficiently, all while working above a standard you are used to seeing with large corporations. What’s more, our team has 40+ years of collaborative LCD repair experience to ensure your designs are handled properly.

AGDisplays’ product restoration process involves using new or refurbished parts that are 100% tested. Using refurbished parts allows us to contribute to our environmental commitment to actively reducing our carbon footprint.

AGDisplays performs a full diagnostic analysis for each repaired unit that can include the following: chromaticity analysis (color temperature), luminance analysis, polarizer absorption axis analysis, optical film stack analysis, pixel defect inspection, & uniformity analysis.

AGDisplays uses quality resources that are now available to you at an affordable price. We have a direct relationship with LCD distributors, providing our customers with the same resources. We also utilize our access to EOL (end of life) panels that may be out of reach for others, to provide hard to source parts or panels for your direct benefit.

AGDisplays employs a standard repair pricing structure so you are paying only for the services you need. We also offer customers a repair warranty program for products that are no longer under OEM warranty.

Throughout the whole repair service, AGDisplays performs product inspections and readings to accurately verify repair and testing procedures. When a product enters the AGDisplays facility, our team performs incoming inspections to verify condition of the product, noting repair-worthy performance. We then perform a series of detailed visual inspections for further verification or for further discovery. For pixel performance, AGDisplays employs a Chroma 27011 on various screen color backgrounds. Photometer readings are performed to measure brightness for potential degradation or for post-repair evaluation.

AGDisplays performs repair, replacement and upgrades to virtually all aspects of a display. Below is a sample of all of our repair services:

  • Polarizer and film replacement: this includes front and back polarizers, anti-glare films, glossy films, specialized AR film replacement, EMI lamination replacement and more.
  • Backlight assembly: we replace and upgrade CCFL lighting systems to up-to-date LED technology; LED backlight repair and controller replacement.
  • Touchscreen assembly: replace or upgrade touchscreen sensors for increased response and touchscreen controller replacement.
  • NVIS: understand what you need for NVIS compatible or NVIS compliant backlighting systems. We retrofit NVIS-backlighting systems and provide redesign of your system, if necessary.
  • Troubleshooting: not sure what’s wrong or what you need to upgrade desired features? No problem, AGDisplays will evaluate and identify performance problems and be able to offer solutions.

led and controller

While upgrading to high powered LEDs will provide a vibrant display, LED rails will require compatible LED controllers for stable power and a long-lasting unit. AGDisplays manufactures our own line of LED controllers that work safely with our LED rails and integrate into virtually any OEM LCD.

AGDisplays’ LED controller provide a safe way to power your LED backlighting system. They provide a high brightness output while keeping power consumption low; they have a wide power input range: 12-24 volts. These LED controllers are constant current; they automatically regulate and adjust to current appropriately to maintain a safe and constant current to LED rails.

AGDisplays also has access to thousands of aftermarket LED controllers.

lifecycle support

Each year, obsolete components are pulled from inventory, costing manufacturers wasted time and extra expenses. EOL panels and components prompt time and energy to be spent on re-designing of products when it comes to repairs and upgrades. LCD Lifecycle Management is a service for customers who have panels in need of component replacement parts or who are aware their equipment may turn end of life (EOL).

As broken components on your panel go EOL, AGDisplays provides a quick and hassle-free source for new or alternative components. We follow strict supply chain practices and well-maintained databases that lead to ultimate quality and customer satisfaction. Moreover, we use test sample orders and validate supply chain offerings prior to large order placement.

Our International Procurement Office in China verifies these resources and quality of the companies we do business with; we have a secure list of trusted vendors with whom we maintain current business practices. Our team constantly employs cross-verification methods for alternate components and we are always analyzing the market to assure current market availability.

For safety assurance, AGDisplays validates supply chain offerings prior to placing large orders. We perform quality testing on products to avoid failure of components. We have a qualified sales and procurement team that provide prompt lifecycle support to your existing display. Our technical team is readily available to benefit your display should you decide to upgrade components or features.

NVIS design and integration

AGDisplays implements state of the art NVIS compliant LCD backlight solutions for full filter and dual mode filtered applications. Whether the need to be compliant to MIL-STD-3009 or merely compatible with NVG equipment, we offer solutions tailored to accommodate your requirements and your existing LCD unit.

NVIS compatible LCD units benefit those markets heavy in navigation, surveillance, rescue, public safety and law regulation. In Avionics, NVIS devices allow aircrews to see during night flight and aid in navigating around obstructions. Military and Defense applications use NVIS in night combat and surveillance operations. In Public Safety, NVIS aids in law enforcement, search and rescue operations, maritime public safety, and lends a hand with homeland missions. NVIS aids during training simulations, such as during flight, marksmanship, combat and group missions.

NVIS improves situational awareness at night; it dramatically reduces the possibility of collision for those in moving vehicles. AGDisplays offers a full front NVIS passive installation or a robust dual mode high bright solution for enhanced day and night use. These systems have been used for years by the police and military.

AGDisplays offers two unique NVIS solutions; one solution allows for a passive installation while we offer a second, more robust integration that allows for regular day use and NVIS-enabled filtering at night.

Displays must be visible to the unaided eye while emitting very low levels of IR (infrared). If a display emits small amounts of radiant energy within the response range of the IR-sensitive photocathode, it may degrade the performance by impairing the resolution or sensitivity of the imaging system.

NVIS-compatible illuminated displays do not interfere with NVIS and remain readable to the unaided eye. NVIS compatibility also means that enemy's NVIS system will find it difficult or impossible to detect the light source at a distance.

A normal incandescent, EL (electroluminescent), or LED light source interferes with NVIS because it emits significant IR radiation within the response range of NVIS. This excess IR causes interference in several ways:

  • IR reflections from the crew station canopy produce ghost images in the NVIS.
  • IR can bloom the goggles, creating a halo-like glow around the displays and reducing visibility.
  • High levels of IR activate the automatic gain control (AGC) and further degrade sensitivity and resolution.

Our more robust solution, AGDisplays designs and manufactures a custom dual mode backlighting solution for LCDs which allows excellent readability in high ambient lighting, while also providing a secondary mode in which the panel’s illumination is NVIS compliant. Our NVIS solutions are ideal for use in military, avionics and industrial applications, including limited mobile devices.

The backlighting system consists of two backlight sources that operate independently of each other. The first light source is bundled; the second light source is an NVIS compliant light source that can have Class A or B filters. All optical components fall within MIL-STD-3009. In night mode, brightness is dropped and light is filtered to allow compatibility with night vision imaging systems.

With the installation of our Generation 4 high bright LEDs, panel readability and clarity in ambient light is maximized as well as enhancing sunlight readability. In day time mode, our Gen 4 high Bright LEDs run at a stable current, displaying sharp and bright graphics, ideal for use in ambient environments.

This solution is bonded using a liquid optical bond, providing increased LCD ruggedization and improved optical features. Dual mode backlighting is compatible with various optical coatings to increase viewability, as necessary. Optical coating options include anti-glare or anti-reflective films. Durable glass provides protection from abrasions and spills.

AGDisplays offers an NVIS filtering material for devices not looking for an active enhancement. Our polymeric material has been integrated and deployed in numerous military applications.

This solution provides an impressive level of absorption in the near-infrared and stability under solar and temperature exposure, with minimal impact to the visible spectrum. This solution offers a passive installation with safe removal.

Our unique polymeric material is designed with optical performance in mind. The processes used in these optical filters allow for unequal rendering of display red chromaticity. The material is specifically designed to work with LED lighting, and preserves high visibility transmission and low radiance. AGDisplays realizes your specifications are unique, so we offer this solution in range of thicknesses to ensure it can meet your physical criteria.

OCA, optical and tape bonding

An LCD is made of a stack up of various types of materials that create and enhance certain optical properties of the LCD. Often, LCD build designs are constructed in such a fashion that air gaps are left between the layers of its components. Internal reflections are created by the air gap created between these layers. Optical quality can be greatly affected; internal reflections decrease optical clarity, along with the leaving the LCD vulnerable to contamination and moisture collection (condensation). Bonding is the process in which two or more components inside the LCD are bonded together with a type of adhesive to create a single optical index. Put simply, the air gap between the LCD and the cover glass is eliminated, therefore benefiting the LCD functionality in a matter of ways. LCDs are optically improved not only for direct sunlight environments, but in any type of ambient light conditions.

Bonding is also used in displays to ruggedize layers/components together. This creates a stronger and more durable display overall and helps dissipate temperature extremes.

LCD bonding is an adhesive process in which a specific form of adhesive is integrated into the panel stack up to provide an adhesive grip for components inside the LCD. Our bonding options increase panel ruggedization and also prolong product lifecycle, help dissipate temperature extremes and more. Benefits to the end user include enhanced product performance, increased environmental resistance, increased resistance to general wear and tear.

AGDisplays offers different types of bonding services: OCA Bond, Optical Bond, Perimeter Bond. Each service has unique benefits, depending on the need of your specification.

This method uses a liquid bonding adhesive and is the most robust solution of all of our bonding offerings. This robust solution may involve a full lamination, consisting of two outer substrates sandwiching alternating layers of adhesives and other elements. The solution creates superior LCD strength and prevents a shattering screen and less vulnerable to contamination and moisture. It also provides extended operation temperature range capability and increases touch response. The non-yellowing material provides excellent UV resistance. Laminated applications can include: EMI shielding, privacy filters, enhancement filters and security screens.

Optical bonding increases quality and lifespan of LCD, keeping overall replacement costs low. Although our optical bonding service is the strongest bonding service we provide, the solution is reworkable through our production process. AGDisplays performs quality assurance measures and testing on each LCD to ensure specifications are met. Our facility is capable of performing low and high volume production.

Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) bond is a dry film material that is pressure-sensitive. AGDisplays typically uses thin OCA adhesive in small frames and thin display applications. The film application allows for precise and unique processing during production. It is suitable to outdoors and harsh environments. OCA film has silicone’s core properties such low conductivity, low chemical reactivity/thermal stability and the ability to repel water. The installed film allows for excellent display readability and contrast while having anti-reflective/anti-glare features. What’s more, condensation and fogging is prevented when the air gap is eliminated. AGDisplays offers the material in varying thickness, allowing for flexibility in design builds. This option is cost effective, giving customers up to 50% cost savings versus robust bonding services.

Perimeter, or tape bonding involves using a highly adhesive tape to seal the edges of the LCD. A great benefit to using tape bonding is its ability to be retrofitted into any size LCD display. The continuous bond around the perimeter of the display distributes stress over the entire bonded area, providing static or dynamic strength. The benefits of this solution includes resistance to extreme weather, vibration dampening, reworkability, and viscoelasticity. Tape bonding is a low-cost and practical solution while still providing adequate ruggedization with a high adhesion.

passive and active film enhancement

If you find your panel display is dull or unclear, consider film enhancements for a quick and cost effective upgrade to panel performance. Film integration solutions provide benefits such as privacy options, viewability features, increased optics, LCD protection and contrast enhancement. Installing enhancement films is considered a ‘passive’ LCD enhancement which means they are installed without compromising electrical specifications or increasing power consumption.

When integrated into an LCD with a light source, films reflect and/or refracts light to create the desired benefit. Multiple films and configurations may be used in one solution. Benefits to user include quick turnover, cost effective, and no power consumption increase. Some enhancements provide a shielding layer to the front glass of your LCD, protecting it from scratches and contamination.

Evaluating and analyzing the panel's stock film stack is a crucial step in determining the most effective passive film enhancement. Our experienced technicians evaluate and suggest the best recipe available to optimize brightness. While the addition of brightness enhancement films can achieve a brightness increase, many times multiple configurations can be assessed to allow the customer several custom performances.

We maintain state-of-the-art class 1000 clean room facilities equipped with an automated laminating and temperature controlled de-laminating equipment. Our passive integration technology has a variety of benefits for your LCD in terms of performance results.

AGDisplays assures that all enhancement processes produce the desired outcome for our customers, while maintaining the integrity of the LCD panel. AGDisplays has a precise method in terms of final quality control testing. We do final QC testing on every single product that leaves our facility. Our final QC testing is how we maintain a low fallout percentage on not only our film enhancement processes, but on all of our services. Furthermore, AGDisplays employs incoming quality control testing procedures to ensure quality products. This not only guarantees us that we are receiving quality products, but it also helps us pinpoint any defects we may come across while troubleshooting.

Integrating a film enhancement solution is available on your existing display and saves you money by avoiding the purchase of a whole new unit.

Typically, the customer informs us of their desired result, and we engineer a film stack configuration to meet those specifications. Some popular enhancements are below. High bright enhancements increase brightness by 40 to 145 percent and intensify the display's contrast.

Anti-glare enhancements minimize reflections from ambient lighting, noticeably improving readability.

Anti-reflective enhancements improve the durability and lifetime of your display surface. Our anti-reflective properties increase the contrast and sharpness as well as decrease the reflection from your LCD screen, without having to increase your LCD's power consumption.

Quarter wave retarder films offer uniform birefringence increases the wide angle view performance of the panel while keeping haziness low.

Privacy films decrease viewing angles, increasing privacy and keeping information away from prying eyes. This is a great tool to keep your customers' sensitive data safe while they use ATMs, mobile devices and point of sale (credit/debit card) applications.

BRIGHTNESS ENHANCEMENT FILM (BEF): Brightness enhancement film or BEF film can increase the brightness of liquid crystal displays through improved management of the existing light produced by the backlight. The prisms on the brightness enhancement film redirect light from the backlight toward the LCD user. Brightness Enhancement Films utilize refraction and reflection to increase the efficiency of your backlight source, regardless of the source (CCFL or LED). BEF allows light to exit the LCD at a specific angle. Light outside of this angle is reflected back into the LCD until it exits at the proper angle. Multiple Brightness Enhancement Films used in unison can absorb and reflect light from both the 0 and 90 degree absorption angles and can increase the light output while maintaining the recommended current draw of the stock LCD.

DUAL BRIGHTNESS ENHANCEMENT FILM (DBEF): Another transmissive film used to increase brightness is the Dual Brightness Enhancement Film, or DBEF, as it is commonly referred to. DBEF is a thin film reflective polarizer that captures and uses light normally lost to absorption in the bottom LCD polarizer and redirects it until allowing it to exit the LCD backlight assembly at the proper angle. Using DBEF film in conjunction with BEF film can often offer the highest yield of light output. The correct mating of BEF and DBEF films is critical when designing a film enhancement to assure the maximum return is achieved. Multiple versions of DBEF are available; this allows the correct film to be chosen for each specific application. AGDisplays stocks multiple version of this film so we can quickly identify, and implement the correct solution, resulting in less time loss during the engineering stage of development.

ENHANCED SPECULAR REFLECTOR (ESR): ESR is an acronym for Enhanced Specular Reflector; this reflective film is designed to maximize the usage and distribution of light from an LCD's light source. The ESR film is placed in the backlight cavity, providing improved bulb cavity light extraction. The ESR is a thin, 100% polymer film with a reflectivity of 98.5% across the visible spectrum; it uses hundreds of microscopically thin polymer layers that alternate in size to reflect light. Integration of the film also allows more light to be recycled, reducing the required energy needed to power the LCD. Moreover, the light distribution from the LCD's light source increases the LCD's viewing angle. This film used in conjunction with other brightness enhancing films can obtain the highest light output, especially when designing a solution for use in direct sunlight light.

LIGHT DIFFUSION FILM: Diffusion films improve LCD functionality by providing brightness uniformity throughout the active area. Light travelling through the stack up of an LCD will have no direction and be travelling in all directions. The function of the diffuser film is to redirect light in one direction, toward the next film. Employing diffuser films can provide up to 98% total light transmittance. This film also works by blending light from different lamps together, creating even intensity and distribution of the light. PRIVACY FILMS: AGDisplays uses specialized light control films to block screen images from those who are not directly in front of an LCD's viewing area; these films work but acting as blinders to those who are not in direct view of the LCD. Light control films direct light only in the direction of the user. Adding a privacy film layer protects screens from scratches and smudges, extending the life of your product. AGDisplays can help you protect your customers' information with the installation of privacy film on your panels.

touchscreen design and integration

There are multiple touch technologies on the market: resistive, surface capacitive, projected capacitive, surface acoustic wave, and infrared. Without touchscreen technology, user speed and accuracy may be insufficient and confusing.

AGDisplays designs compatible solutions for existing LCD designs or we also provide a new unit that is touch compatible. Many LCD panels are not equipped with a touch sensor. AGDisplays turns customer LCDs into touchscreens with the quick integration of a compatible touch sensor. We also perform repairs, replaces or enhances touchscreen technology.

Product application plays a major role in the type of technology needed, and each touchscreen technology has pros and cons, depending on the application’s environment. It is important to work with the AGDisplays design teams to ensure the best touchscreen match as well as safe and secure touch sensor integration.

By using AGDisplays’ Touchscreen Design and Integration service, you are integrating an intuitive platform into your unit: a mouse and keyboard is familiar to most, but touch screen comes intuitively to users even if they don’t have a computer background.

Touchscreens are quick and responsive, allowing employees to juggle multiple tasks efficiently. Touch screen requires less concentration to use than the standard mouse/keyboard combo. There is up to a 20% reduction in response time for touchscreen users versus traditional input methods.

Save money by integrating touch functionality into your existing display, instead of spending unnecessary money on a whole new LCD touchscreen unit.

Resistive Touchscreen: This is the most common touchscreen on the market. The sensor consists of glass or acrylic panel which is coated with electrically conductive and resistive layers made with ITO (indium tin oxide). The thin layers are separated by invisible spacers. When initiating a point of contact with a resistive touch screen, the stylus/finger creates pressure and contact between the resistive circuit layers, allowing for a complete circuit. The point of contact acts as a pair of voltage dividers with connected outputs, which causes a change in electrical current and the panel can then identify the location of the touch. This touchscreen is activated with virtually any object such as a finger, a stylus, pen, etc. Resistive touchscreens are affordable, highly durable, and have a high resistance to water.

Surface Capacitive Touchscreen: In this build, sensors in the four corners of the display detect capacitive changes made by a touch. The coordinates of the position at which the finger touches the screen are identified by measuring the resulting changes in electrostatic capacity at the four corners of the panel. Protective coating protects touchscreen membrane from scratches and abrasions. A touch can only be detected when it is made with a conductive object such as a finger or hand. The protective coating of the touchscreen provides increased transmissivity. Benefits of this touchscreen includes a glass layer for brighter, sharper images and the touch allows for great contamination resistance.

Projected Capacitive Touchscreen: This touchscreen features superior optical clarity. Touches are sensed through a protective layer (such as glass shield or other substrate). Projected capacitive technologies detect touch by measuring the capacitance at each addressable electrode. When a finger or a conductive stylus approaches an electrode, it disturbs the electromagnetic field and alters the capacitance. This change in capacitance can be measured by the electronics and then converted into X,Y locations that the system can use to detect touch. There are two different sensing methods: self capacitance and mutual capacitance:

  • Self capacitance: to sense touch in a self-capacitance implementation, the electronics scan through each electrode and measures the amount of current on each electrode to establish a steady-state current. When a finger or grounded conductive stylus approaches the screen, they couple to the electrodes and increase the current draw as it creates a path to ground. By determining which row and column is closest to the touch location, and using interpolation for higher precision, a controller can determine the location of a touch.
  • Mutual capacitance: projected capacitance touchscreens intentionally create mutual capacitance between elements of columns and rows in the vicinity where each intersect the other. This allows the system electronics to measure each node (intersection) individually to detect multiple touches on the screen during one screen scan.

Surface Acoustic Wave Touchscreen: The basic principles of surface wave technology are that the surface wave energy can be attenuated by an energy (sound) absorbing material touching the surface, and that the direction of the surface wave energy can be changed or directed by patterns or ridges with specific orientation. When you touch the screen, you absorb a portion of the waves traveling across it. The received signals for X and Y are compared to the stored digital maps, the change is recognized, and a coordinate is calculated. The sensor does not use an electrical signal or use conductive coatings; it uses clear glass for extra durability and extended lifetime.

Infrared Touchscreen: The controller interface strobes the IR emitters both in the X and Y plane to provide a grid of light beams that can be broken by a finger or any touch implement. When a touch is made by a finger or touch implement, one or more beams of light in the matrix will be broken and the controller interface can tell where the touch is positioned to block those particular beams. The monitor and touch overlay are discrete, allowing for upgrades or easy replacement. This sensor performs in just about any indoor lighting environment (unlike many camera-based or vision-based systems, such as the SUR40). Infrared touch sensors scale to larger displays and is economical; it allows up to 40 simultaneous touch points. This sensor is best suited for flat panel displays and large applications, especially when weight of touch sensor is a factor.

turnkey and design services

Turnkey LCD solutions involve organizing a customer’s overall project and selling a complete solution. A design on the customer’s end can simply be providing us with LCD requirements while AGDisplays provides a suitable solution. Development team works closely with each client, from simple designs to complex projects.

This service includes any of AGDisplays’ solutions in accordance with customer specifications. Services may include design/engineering support, subcontracting, first article approval, procurement & expediting of materials, performance guarantee testing, quality functionality testing and more.

AGDisplays offers a one stop shop solution for companies who are looking to design, build and/or source an LCD design and its components. We work together with customers to design a safe LCD assembly for their equipment in need. Safe assembly means a configuration that will provide an LCD unit that will not quickly burn out, interfere with other equipment and that will meet customer specifications.

We have managed complex projects involving an expertise which is not always available with a single firm. Our development team works closely with each client to make sure no detail is left out. Once we have a complete understanding of the customer's requirements we can provide a turnkey solution that fits.

AGDisplays offers increased vendor efficiency and flexibility, assuring continuity of supply, timely distribution and top quality components. AGDisplays adheres to all US industry standards and specifications and we perform complete factory testing prior to shipments.

Using AGDisplays for turnkey design and integration allows customers to have complete control over the designed unit, down to selecting preferred interface signal.

This service saves customer time and money by alleviating the need to personally design a safe unit; AGDisplays allows customers to take a hands-off, worry-free approach, if needed. Further, AGDisplays sources all components needed, so customers no longer are required to shop, price compare and track lead times for various design components.

zero pixel inspection

Many companies require documentation certifying inspections have been completed. Our service provides zero pixel inspections and certificate of conformance documents for your panel.

Dead pixel policies vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are thousands—if not millions—of pixels in every panel. A panel with 1080x1920 contains 2,073,600 pixels. Many companies have acceptable standards for a certain amount of allowable dead pixels—meaning you may have been sold a panel with dead pixels.

We receive panels from OEM before they reach the customer:

  • AGD inspects panels for zero pixels per customer specification
  • We inform customer of failing panels, and will perform LCD exchange with OEM, if OEM spec grade fails.

Customer may send LCD panels directly to AGDisplays for inspection:

  • AGD inspects panels for zero stuck or faulty pixel quality
  • AGD confirms and documents findings for verification

AGDisplays verifies that your zero-pixel specifications are being met. We perform urgency on every zero-pixel inspection request, knowing that time is money. We employ a comprehensive training program is so your units are in the hands of Technicians who expertly handle units like yours every day. Our Technicians and Inspectors use best practices in managing testing and inspections.