Key Features for Choosing a Sunlight Readable Display

What is Sunlight Readable display technology?

There are several technical approaches and various enhancement methods to increase screen viewability and reliability in the sunlight. The primary enhancement is to develop a backlight system that increases the brightness of the LCD to overcome a brightly lit environment. There are also other technologies that can be added to a high bright backlight including optically bonding the display, transflective enhancement, direct backlighting with local dimming, and applying anti-reflective or anti-glare coatings.

Optical Bonding to Reduce Refraction

Optical bonding is a process where a layer of resin is applied between the glass or touchscreen and LCD panel of a monitor, bonding them to make a solid laminate with no gaps or pockets of air.

When an external source of light hits the screen the gap between the glass and LCD module creates opportunities for refraction which bounces external light back off the screen to the viewer as glare. If optical bonding is applied the light passes through the bonded layers and is absorbed somewhat into the screen. Optical bonding therefore helps in making screens sunlight readable and can replicate a higher bright display with better levels of contrast.

Transflective Enhanced LCDs

An alternate method for minimizing backlight heat and improving outdoor viewability is to enhance the LCD with a Transflective, meaning transmissive-reflective, layer. This transflective layer allows the ambient light to be reflected through the LCD display and redirects the sunlight to make the LCD viewable in a high bright ambient environment. This allows for lower power displays with high performance color enhancement in outdoor environments.

Local Dimming to Reduce Heat and Save Energy

Local dimming is a technology which dims the LED backlights within controlled zones to optimize brightness and contrast, reduce heat generation and save energy. This is achieved by placing several small LEDs to illuminate the screen over a smaller area when compared with the entire surface. With the “Local Dimming” function certain areas of the image can be blacked out and others illuminated – thus creating a very high and dynamic contrast ratio.