Led displays are everywhere from the towering billboards illuminating cityscapes to the crisp screens of our smartphones, they’re how we consume information and entertainment.
Are you wondering what an LED display is and how does it work? This is where understanding the intricacies of this technology comes into play and knowledge that you can use to make purchasing decisions for your business, event or personal use.
In this detailed guide, we’ll equip you with everything you need to make the right choice for your LED display. Whether you are an event planner looking to create engaging experiences or a tech enthusiast looking for the best image quality or a business owner wanting to enhance brand visibility.
From basic terminology like Pixel Pitch, to advanced technical considerations to various display types, we’ll cover it all! Keep reading to become an expert on LED displays!
What is an LED Display?
An LED display is a display technology which is directly illuminated by an array of LEDs. Whereas traditional displays require backlighting, each LED in an LED display emits light to produce a self illuminating image.
There are a whole range of sizes and configurations of these displays, from the smallest handheld screens used in smartphones and wearables to massive outdoor video walls for advertising or public notice.
LED displays prove versatile enough to be used in many applications across different fields of business.
Understanding LED Display Technology: Core Components
The components of LED displays are full of magic that is required to make the displays vibrant and dynamic. All of these elements work together to produce stunning visuals. Now we are going to explain the nuts and bolts (aka essential building blocks) that make up an LED display.
● LED Modules/Panels
LED modules (led panels) are the basic element to make larger LED displays. Each of these individual units consists of many LEDs soldered to a circuit board. These led display panels are designed with precision and the spacings and alignment of these led are consistent and accurate.
Manufacturers can easily interlace various led display modules to build small indoor screens or large outdoor video walls. This modularity also aids in installation and maintenance where modules can be replaced easier in case one fails. The led display wall is made of these led display modules.
As it is highly modular, this design is flexible and scalable for many different use cases of LED displays.
● Pixel Pitch and Resolution
The term pixel pitch means the spacing from the centre of one pixel to the centre of the next pixel in millimeters (mm). The effect of this seemingly small measurement is quite large on image quality.
Smaller pixel pitches mean that the pixels are packed closer together, leading to higher per inch pixel density and a sharper, more detailed image as you get closer to the picture.
The display has a total number of pixels, often expressed in pixels (e.g. 1920×1080) referred to as resolution. The more resolution and smaller pixel pitch, the better the image quality. Here’s a breakdown of how pixel pitch relates to viewing distance:
- Small Pixel Pitch (e.g., 1.2mm – 2.5mm):Close viewing distance (sight distances of a few meters are ideal) and commonly used in indoor applications such as retail stores, control rooms and conference rooms etc.
- Medium Pixel Pitch (e.g., 4mm – 6mm):Medium viewing distances (e.g. a few meters to tens of meters) ; used often in outdoor advertising, sports venues and public information displays.
- Large Pixel Pitch (e.g., 8mm and above):Used in large outdoor billboards and stadium displays and intended for long viewing distances, (e.g., tens of meters to hundreds of meters).
The relationship between the pixel pitch and the resolution of the led display is important in the depiction of the entire led display image quality. By understanding this, you can select the right led display screen for your use.
● LED Types (SMD, DIP, COB)
A variety of LEDs are used in displays, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are a wide range of package devices and the most common are; Surface Mounted Device (SMD), Dual In line Package (DIP) and Chip on Board (COB).
- SMD (Surface Mounted Device):Tighter pixel pitches and higher resolutions through use of small, surface mounted LEDs. Used in both indoor and fine pitch outdoor displays. Supplies good color mixing and wide viewing angles.
- DIP (Dual In-line Package):Through hole mounted larger LEDs with better robustness and capable of use for outdoor applications for large pixel pitches. Extremely bright and durable.
- COB (Chip-on-Board): A newer technology, in which multiple LED chips are packaged directly onto a substrate. It offers better contrast, viewing angles and much more even light output.
When you have a better understanding of what the different display led types are, you’ll easily decide which display type will be right fit for your needs.
A suitable choice of LED type is based on the specific application, performance desired and budget.
● Control Systems and Processing
For every dazzling LED display, there is a sophisticated control system. The display and its content are managed by controllers, processors, and specialized software which compose this system.
It will accept video signals and distribute to LED modules from a source, such as a computer or media player. Image scaling, color correction and other processing is done by the processor in order to provide the best quality image.
Users are allowed to manage content and adjust settings, and can also monitor the display’s performance. The main role for the led display board is managing the performance of the display. Key functions of the control system include:
- Signal Processing: Transforming of video signals to the display.
- Image Scaling: You can change the image resolution to suit the monitor’s screen.
- Color Calibration:Removing any bias when creating color accessories.
- Content Management:Displaying various types of content and scheduling.
Without these control systems, these LED displays are basically useless: they are not operating in the way that the designer intended or at their highest possible output.
4 Types of LED Displays and Their Applications
LED displays are a tremendously flexible medium which can go into various settings. The modular design and the advances in LED technology are what have made them so adaptable. This part is about the different types of LED displays and their general applications.
1. Indoor LED Displays
LED indoors displays are for closed space where effects of the weather do not impact the display and pictures are of very high resolution and vivid type such that close viewing is possible. They are frequently used in:
- Retail Displays:Making product showcases, promotional displays and even digital signage within stores engaging. These led display cases are made to make the shopping experience more attractive and reach customers.
- Conference Rooms:For all your needs of delivering impactful presentations, video conferencing or training sessions with clear and engaging visuals.
- Control Rooms: Monitoring critical systems, showing real time data and supporting collaborative decision making.
With indoor LED displays, you are getting great color accuracy, contrast and brightness that allows you to generate great visual impact within your indoor spaces.
2. Outdoor LED Displays
The ultra bright and rugged nature of an outdoor LED display are designed specifically to withstand these harsh weather conditions and provide long range viewing. Common applications include:
By maximizing impact and visibility, outdoor LED displays offer great means for outdoor advertising and communication. They are ideal for use in bright daylight.
3. Rental LED Displays
Rental LED Displays offer temporary events and installation possibilities as a flexible and cost-effective solution. These displays are easy to set up, teardown, and transport. They are commonly used for:
- Concerts and Festivals:In collaboration with artists and designers, you can make dynamic stage backdrops and visual effects.
- Trade Shows and Exhibitions: Use to display products and services in an engaging way.
- Corporate Events and Conferences: Improve the event experience, and how to deliver impactful presentations.
Rental LED Displays offer a simple and cost effective way of taking advantage of this rapidly popularising marketing medium for shorter commitments.
4. Specialized LED Displays (Flexible, Transparent, etc.)
Beyond the standard indoor and outdoor displays, several specialized types of LED displays cater to unique applications:
- Flexible LED Displays: By being able to be bent and curved, these displays can be made to fit unconventional shapes and surfaces to create unique and eye-catching installations.
- Transparent LED Displays: These displays let light pass through them and can be used as windows that permit the viewer to see through them – for a window display or architectural application.
- Creative LED Displays: Besides standard rectangular panels, there are these displays in all shapes and sizes.
The key benefit of these specialized LED displays is that it offers up new possibilities for viable and innovative visual solutions.
Make Informed Decisions with Geshino’s LED Display Expertise
The right LED display choice quite impacts your business, event or your personal project. To buy the right LED display for your needs, you must know the type of display, resolution, pixel pitch and certain technical factors.
If you need expert advice and quality LED display solutions then choose Geshine, the LED display manufacturer.