Planar EL320.240-FA3 User Manual

EL320.240-FA3
Multi-Color QVGA EL Display

OPERATIONS MANUAL

www.planar.com

Revision Control

Date Description

February 2007 Initial release, 020-0591-00 Rev A

EL320.240-FA3 Operations Manual Page 2 of 25

Table of Contents

EL320.240-FA3 Multi-Color QVGA Display………………………………...…………...…4

Features and Benefits…………………………………………………………………….…4

Installation and Set-up…………………………………………………………...………..5

Mounting Considerations…………………………...………...…..…………………………5

Cable Length…………………………………………………...……………………………5

Cleaning………………………………………………………...……………………………5

Avoiding Image Burn-in………………………………………..……………………………6

Power Supply and Video Sequencing………...…………...……...…………………………6

VH Overcurrent Protection……………...……………………...……………………………6

Internal Frame Buffer…………………………………...………………...………….………6

Color Bit Mapping……................………………………...………………...………….………6

Display Overlay Considerations……...............……………...……………...………….………7

Specifications and Operation………………………...……………………………..……..8

Environmental……………………………………………...……………………………...…8

Over-temp Condition………………………………………...…...…………………...…8

Optical……………………………………………...…………………………………...….…9

Displayed Colors……………………………………………...……………….…………9

Power…………………………………...…………………………………………………...10

Display Interface……………………..………………...……………………………..……..11

Video Mode Selection…………………………………...……………………………..11

Connector…………………………………...………………………………...………...12

Display Input Descriptions…………………………………...……………….………...13

Video Mode Timing ………………………………………...………………...……...…14

Dimming…………………………………...……………………………………………….19

Self Test Mode…………………………………...……………………………………….....20

Reliability………………………………………...…………………………………...…...…21

Safety and EMI Performance…………………………………...……………………...……21

Mechanical Characteristics…………………………………...……………………...……...21

Display Dimensions and Component Envelope …………………………………...…22

Warranty…………….…………………………………………………………….…...…23
Ordering Information…………………………………………………………..……...…23
RoHS……………………………………...……………………………………….…...….24

Support and Service…………………………………………………….………..……....24

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EL320.240-FA3 Multi-Color QVGA Display

The EL320.240-FA3 thin film electroluminescent (EL) multi-color display is a
high-performance alternative to QVGA (320 x 240) LCDs and is the ideal
solution in demanding applications where superior visual performance,
extreme temperature range, and environmental ruggedness are critical.

The EL320.240-FA3 utilizes Planar’s proprietary Integral Contrast Enhancement
technology combined with red and green filters patterned over Planar’s
industry-leading yellow phosphor to achieve unparalleled image quality in
hues of red, green and yellow. Three intensity levels in each of the red and
green sub-pixels generate sixteen distinct colors (nine chromatically different
colors, black, and two mid-levels of red, green, and yellow.)

The display consists of a solid state EL glass panel, depicted below, with
a124mm diagonal active area, and control electronics assembled into a
space-saving, rugged package for easy mounting.

Features and Benefits

• Excellent visual performance:

Unparalleled crisp, clear image

Excellent contrast
Unbeatable viewing angle of > 160° for all colors in all directions

No off-axis color or contrast shift

• Extremely wide operation temperature range: -50 to 85C

• Instant turn on at -50C: no heaters needed, no warm up time

• Long life phosphor: allows >11 years of continuous operation

• Wide dimming range via digital control and analog voltage input

• Rugged solid state construction

• Great reliability: MTBF > 50,000 hours demonstrated

• Low cost of ownership: no maintenance, no lamps to replace

• AMLCD-type panel interface, 3V and 5V logic compatible

• RoHS compliance

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Installation and Set-up

Do not drop, bend, or flex the display. Do not allow objects to strike the
surface of the display.

CAUTION: The display uses CMOS and devices. These components are
electrostatic-sensitive. Unpack, assemble, and examine this assembly in a
static-controlled area only. When shipping, use packing materials designed
for protection of electrostatic-sensitive components.

Mounting EL Displays

Properly mounted, EL displays can withstand high shock loads as well as
severe vibration found in demanding applications. However the glass panel
used in an EL display will break if subjected to bending stresses, high impact,
or excessive loads.

Avoid bending the display. Stresses are often introduced when a display is
mounted into a product. Ideally, the mounting tabs of the display should be
the only point of contact with the system. Use a spacer or boss for support;
failure to do so will bend the display and cause the glass to break. The
instrument enclosure or frame should not flex or distort in such a way that
during use the bending loads might be transferred to the display. The
EL320.240-FA3 mounting tabs were designed for a 3 mm screw. Mounting
surfaces should be flat to within ±0.6 mm (±0.025"). Use all the mounting holes
provided. Failure to do so will impair the shock and vibration resistance of the
final installation.

WARNING: These products generate voltages capable of causing personal
injury (high voltage up to 140 Vac ). Do not touch the display electronics
during operation.

Cable Length

A cable length of 0.5 m (20 inches) or less is recommended. Longer cables may
cause visual artifacts such as pixel “jitter” due to data transfer problems
between the host and the display.

Cleaning

As with any glass surface, care should be taken to minimize scratching. Clean
the display glass with mild, water-based detergents only. Apply the cleaner
sparingly to a soft cloth, then wipe the display. Disposable cleaning cloths are
recommended to minimize the risk of inadvertently scratching the display
with particles embedded in a re-used cloth.

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Avoiding Image Burn-In

As with other light emitting displays, displaying fixed patterns on the screen
may cause burn-in, where luminance variations can be noticed after hundreds
of hours of operation. To avoid image burn-in, use a screen saver or use
periodic image inversion if possible. Note that the rate of image burn-in will
slow over time such that most of the burned-in image effect occurs in the first
1000 hours of operation.

Power Supply and Video Sequencing

Any combination or sequencing in the application or removal of VH (12VDC
input power)and/or video signals will not result in abnormal display operation
or display failure

.

VH Overcurrent Protection

There is no overcurrent protection on VH, the 12V power input. To protect
against catastrophic faults, Planar recommends the use of a fuse or similar
protection on the VH input to the display.

Internal Frame Buffer

This display includes an internal frame buffer, which is required to transform
the incoming video data into the desired displayed data. The display frame
rate (the rate at which the phosphor is scanned) and thus the display
brightness are independent of the frame rate of the user-supplied input data.
Video data need not be continuously sent to the display since previously sent
data is stored indefinitely until new data is received.

CAUTION: Some third-party video controllers use frame dithering algorithms
to produce gray scale images. If such algorithms are used, the internal frame
buffer may cause objectionable visual artifacts.

Color Bit Mapping

The EL320.240-FA3 utilizes standard AMLCD-type video interface timing. Thus
it is possible that a video source will be chosen which provides 18 bits of data
per pixel (six bits each for red, green, and blue) as is common for AMLCD
displays. Because the EL320.240-FA3 requires just 4 bits (two each for red and
green), the 18 bits would need to be mapped into 4 bits.

One option is to use just the two most significant bits of red and green and
leave the rest open or terminated. This is the easiest approach and will work
well if the user is developing their own content and can refrain from using
patterns containing dim colors since these would likely be displayed as black.

EL320.240-FA3 Operations Manual Page 6 of 25

Another option is to electrically “OR” the 3 red MSBs together and route the
result to R1, OR the 3 red LSBs together and route to R0, and do the same for
G1 and G0. Additionally the bits of blue could be OR’d together with either
the red or green bits depending on the characteristics of the images that need
to be displayed.

If upgrading from a monochrome EL320.240 display model and using the SGD
timing mode, some engineering will be required to map the monochrome
SGD data into the color data required by the EL320.240-FA3. SGD data is one
bit per pixel, and 4 pixels of data are latched per video clock edge. The
EL320.240-FA3 is 4 bits per pixel with one pixel of data latched per clock edge.

Display Overlay Considerations

Though not a requirement, often the end system will employ some type of
transparent cover over the front the display. The purpose and construction of
the cover varies depending on the application and economical constraints.
The cover may be used to improve contrast under certain lighting conditions
by reducing reflections, to provide additional impact protection, to provide a
more seamless enclosure appearance, or to protect against fluids. See
Application Note AN117-01 at planar.com for details. Some leading suppliers
of various display overlays are: EyeSaver International, Cyro Industries, and
Dontech Incorporated.

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Specifications and Operation

Environmental

Environmental Characteristics

Temperature

Operating -50°C to +85°C
Storage -50°C to +105°C

Humidity

Non-condensing,
operating

Condensing,
non-operating

Altitude

Operating/non-operating 0 to 18 km (58k ft) per IEC 68-2-13

Vibration

Random
Operating/non-operating

93% RH max at +40°C, per IEC 68-2-3

95% RH max at +55°C, per IEC 68-2-30

0.05 g2/Hz, ASD level, 5-500 Hz
per IEC 68-2-36, test Fdb.

Shock

Operating/non-operating 100 g, 6 ms, half sine wave on each of six surfaces per

Over-temp Condition

The display contains a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the circuit board at the lower left corner as viewed from the component side of the board.

If the board temperature exceeds approximately 100C, the display will
automatically operate at its lowest luminance setting (as if LUM0 was low and LUM1
was high) to reduce the board temperature. At no point will the display be shut
down. The content of the pattern will be unaffected.

After surpassing 100C, once the board temperature drops below approximately 92C
or the power is cycled, the display will resume normal operation as defined by the
LUM0 and LUM1 settings. Typically, the 100C limit may be reached if the 12V input
power exceeds 6W when the ambient temperature for the display electronics is
85C.

IEC 68-2-27, test Ea.

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