TRU-Vu monitors are designed for demanding industrial/commercial applications. They utilize industrial-grade components to ensure long-term, reliable performance and 24/7/365 operation.
2. EXCELLENT IMAGE QUALITY
We utilize grade-A LCD panels, high-end image processing boards and superior graphics engines to ensure bright, sharp images and vivid colors. We also offer optically-bonded and sunlight models to ensure excellent viewability even in bright, direct sunlight, where standard monitors may be totally unusable.
3. EXTENSIVE SELECTION
TRU-Vu monitors are available in a wide range of styles, configurations and sizes:
TRU-Vu monitors can be customized or modified to meet your exact requirements. From face treatments and enclosures to video inputs and special features, just tell us what you need. For truly unique OEM needs, we can custom-build a monitor to your specifications.
5. PRIVATE-LABEL
Monitors can be private-labeled with your company name, logo, and model number on the monitor bezel, rear label and shipping carton.
6. LONG-TERM AVAILABILITY
A common problem for OEM’s is that retail/consumer-grade monitor models are discontinued every 3 to 12 months. TRU-Vu can guarantee long-term availability (3+ years) for OEM models.
7. 3-YEAR WARRANTY
All TRU-Vu monitors 7” and larger carry our full 3-Year Warranty. An Advance Replacement Program is available for OEM’s. Competitors’ warranties generally range from 6 to 12 months, but industrial/commercial use voids many retail/consumer-grade monitor warranties.
8. WIDE VIEWING ANGLE
Our monitors can be viewed by multiple people simultaneously, thanks to viewing angles of up to 178º, both vertically and horizontally. Retail/consumer-grade monitors are designed as desktop computer monitors, assuming a single viewer seated directly in front. Typical viewing angles are 100º to 150º horizontally, and 100º to 125º vertically (with some dead spots in between).
9. DEMO SAMPLES
Don’t just take our word for it, try it!. Demo units are available for you to test, evaluate and compare any of our monitors.
10. U.S. OPERATION
TRU-Vu operations are based in the U.S.: product design, engineering, technical support and inventory. We eliminate all the potential problems of dealing directly with an offshore supplier (language barriers, shipping delays, inconsistent quality, lack of inventory, no service or support, currency fluctuations, etc.)
For more details, contact us at: TRU-Vu Monitors, Inc. 925 E. Rand Road, Suite #209 Arlington Heights, IL 60004 (847) 259-2344 sales@tru-vumonitors.com
Touch screen monitors seem to be everywhere. The great thing about them is that they are extremely easy to use.
A touch screen is like an invisible keyboard, but it displays only as
much data and button choices as users need to complete a specific task,
or set of tasks. That explains their popularity in devices from cell
phones to kiosks and industrial machinery.
The most important
decision in selecting the best touch screen monitor for your application
will be the type of touch screen technology to use. There are several
types, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We will cover
the three most common types:
Resistive Touch Screen Monitors
A
resistive touch screen monitor is composed of a glass panel covered
with thin conductive and resistive metallic layers, separated by a thin
space. When a user touches the screen, the 2 layers touch at that
point. The computer detects the change in the electrical field and calculates the touch point.
Resistive
touch screens are generally the most affordable, but they only offer
approximately 75-80% image clarity. The touch can be activated with
nearly any type of object (stylus, gloved finger, etc.), but the outer
surface can be damaged with sharp objects.
Capacitive Touch Screen Monitors
In
a capacitive touch screen monitor, a layer that stores a continuous
electrical current is placed on top of the monitor's glass panel. When
an exposed finger touches the monitor screen, some of the electrical
charge transfers to the user. This decrease in capacitance is detected
and located by circuits located at each corner. The computer then
determines the touch point.
Capacitive
touch screens are a durable technology that is often used in kiosks,
point-of-sale systems and industrial machinery. Capacitive touch
screens have a higher clarity than resistive-type (88-92%), and have
greater endurance (up to 225 million touches) than a Resistive-type.
However, capacitive screens can only be activated with an exposed finger
(no gloves, pointers, etc.), and are slightly more expensive.
SAW Touch Screen Monitors
SAW (Surface
Acoustic Wave) touch screen monitors utilize a series of transducers and
reflectors along the sides of the monitor's glass plate to create an
invisible grid of ultrasonic waves on the surface. When the panel is
touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. The receiving transducer
locates the touch point, and sends this data to the controller.
SAW
touch screen panels have no layers on the screen, thus enabling over
90% image clarity, and can display high-detail graphics. They can be
activated by a finger, gloved hand or soft-tip stylus. However, SAW
panels are the most expensive of the three, and moving liquids or
condensation on the face can cause false-triggers; solid contaminants on
the screen can create non-touch areas, until they are removed.
Other Technologies
Infrared and optical imaging are gaining popularity for larger (22"+) displays.
Other Considerations
Other factors to consider in your selection process include:
Interface: Touch screen panels must
communicate with the computer. The most common interface types are
RS-232 and USB. New HID-compliant touch screen monitors eliminate the
need for drivers.
Mounting: Options include panel mount,
rack mount and free-standing. If free-standing, be sure that it uses a
heavy-duty stand designed for touch screens; standard table top bases
will topple over.
Environment: Touch screen monitors are
available in standard, stainless steel and waterproof
enclosures for a variety of environments.
Screen Size: Touch screen monitors are
available from 3.5" to 52" in size. The most common sizes are 15"-19",
and 32"-42" for large control rooms. The aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9)
should also be considered.
The type of touch screen monitor you select will
be contingent upon many factors, including type of data to be displayed
(video, graphics, text), the intended users, the operating environment
and where/how it will be mounted. Chosen correctly, touch screen
monitors will be an excellent addition to your system.
This provides an overview of the LCD monitor nomenclature and specifications as they relate to TRU-Vuindustrial LCD monitors.This is an ever changing industry and as such all specifications are subject to change.Only LCD displays will be covered in this paper; CRT's, LED's and Plasma are not considered.
LCD TECHNOLOGY
The LCD monitor represents the display technology of choice for the current applications targeted byTRU-Vu monitors.LCD offers the best compromise between performance, price, and reliability.
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. It utilizes liquid crystals sandwiched between two layers of glass, that when energized allow light to pass through. In the "off" state, a liquid crystal will block light. Think of an LCD as a shutter that controls the passage of light. There is a fluorescent or LED backlight behind the LCD that is constantly on. The light from the backlight is passed through the LCD module, where the amount of light modulated by each individual pixel to create various level of brightness. In the front pane of glass are color filters. These are vertical strips of Red, Green, and Blue that when combined form a pixel and can produce any color of the spectrum. White is achieved by opening all colors, black by blocking all colors. The location of each individual Pixel is fixed with an LCD, as compared with a CRT where the pixel location is determined by the location of the electron beam.
Advantages:
Will not burn in the image.This is critical when viewing static images
Thin and lightweight
Perfect geometry of the image
Superior focus across the entire image
Reliability
COMPONENTS OF AN LCD DISPLAY
Compared with a CRT monitor, the LCD monitor is a much simpler device.This relates to less components used and therefore higher reliability.
LCD Module The glass display window.This is a light shutter that varies the amount of light allowed through a given color of sub-pixel to create an overall image.There are approximately six major manufacturers of LCD modules, with another half-dozen smaller, specialized LCD producers.The LCD module typically includes the backlight as part of a complete assembly.All LCD modules have polarizers to direct the light, and diffusers to eliminate bright spots where the lamps are.
Backlight The light source behind the LCD Shutter.This is typically made of CCFL fluorescent lamps or an array of LED"s.There are Direct backlight and Edge backlight configurations.Most backlights are CCFL Fluorescent, but LED"s are making in roads.
Inverter An electronic ballast to drive the fluorescent lamps of the LCD module.A high-voltage, low current device, it is critical that the inverter be matched to the LCD for maximum lamp life. Controller Board The brains of the unit.The controller board converts either an analog or digital signal from the camera/computer to the digital signal the LCD module requires.This board also controls all other aspects of the signal and display quality such as the On Screen Display function, Scaling, and audio when optioned.
OSD Board On Screen Display board.Switch board to control the parameters of the display such as power, brightness, contrast, color, sizing, volume, etc.
Power Supply LCD's are typically powered internally by 12 or 24 VDC.To operate the display, an AC/DC transformer is required.The transformer can be either internal or external to the display.An external transformer would be the "Power Brick" that is common on smaller sized displays, while the internal style would have an IEC-320 style plug that connects directly to a wall outlet.There are advantages to both types; the external does not induce heat to the monitor, while the internal is more convenient. RESOLUTION
The resolution of the LCD monitor is determined by the quantity of horizontal and vertical pixels.An LCD has a "Native" resolution, which is the fixed quantity of horizontal and vertical pixels.Through scaling of the graphics chip, the LCD can display many resolutions other than the native resolution.For example, when the signal source is putting out 640x480 resolution on a 15" LCD (native is 1024x768), it will expand the image to fill the entire screen rather than showing a reduced size image in the center of the screen.There are VESA standards of resolution that are typically used for display properties.Occasionally, there will be proprietary signals that are not compatible with standard LCD monitors.These proprietary signals can be especially difficult for an LCD to resolve.Due to the LCD using digital logic, they typically require a very structured signal and are not as forgiving as the analog CRT's were.
VESA Standard Resolutions (and typical associated panel sizes):
VGA:640 x 480 pixels8" and smaller, some 20" SVGA:800 x 6008.4", 10", 10.4", 12", some 20" XGA:1024 x 76815" WXGA:1280 x 76817" WXGA:1366 x 76818.5", 20", 23", 26", 32", 37", 42" WXGA+:1440 x 90019" SXGA:1280 x 102417", 19" WSXGA+:1680 x 105020", 22" UXGA:1600 x 120020" FULL HD:1920 x 108026", 32", 42", 46", 52"
These represent the standard sizes as dictated by VESA (Video Electronics Standard Assoc.), There are others available in specialty markets.Often the resolution will be referred to as X mega-pixels (MP); this refers to the quantity of total pixels on the display in millions, multiplying the Horizontal x Vertical.Example SXGA = 1280 (H) x 1024 (V), or 1.3MP.UXGA is 1600 x 1200, or 2MP.
ASPECT RATIO
There are two basic aspect ratios available:4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (widescreen).The standard aspect ratio LCD monitors are being replaced by the widescreen aspect ratio monitors, driven by the HD television market.Standard aspect ratio monitors are only available in sizes of 20.1" and smaller.Widescreen aspect ratio monitors are available across the size spectrum.
VIDEO CONNECTIONS
There are different input connections for LCD monitors, typically associated with given resolutions.There are other, less common connectors, but these are the most prevalent in the industry.
Composite(CVBS-Composite Video Blanking and Sync) RCA and BNC connectors. Typically associated with NTSC, PAL, and SECAM low resolution, interlaced signals.Has video, color, and sync signals combined in one carrier.
S-Video(Separate Video)Four-Pin Mini-Din connector.An analog signal that separates the Brightness and Color components of the video signal. Slightly better than CVBS for image quality, associated with NTSC, PAL, and SECAM interlaced signals.
VGA(Video Graphics Array)Standard computer monitor interface.HD-15 D-Sub connector.Analog signal capable of running from VGA through UXGA. Utilizes separate R,G,B color and Horizontal and Vertical sync signals.
DVI-D(Digital Visual Interface- Digital)24-Pin D-shaped connector, compatible with DVI-I connector from a mechanical standpoint. Pure digital signal, no analog component transmitted.Not as common as the DVI-I signal due to the universality of the DVI-I signal.
DVI-I(Digital Visual Interface- Integrated)27-Pin D-shaped connector.This has both the digital and analog components of the signal. The analog portion allows the signal to work with VGA connections when an adaptor is used.
HDMI(Hi-Definition Multimedia Interface)19-Pin connector, similar in size to a USB connector. UncompressedDigital signal for video and audio. Capable of displaying up to Full HD signals.Typically used in consumer HD applications.
SDI(Serial Digital Interface)BNC connector. Digital signal used in Broadcast industry.
HD-SDI (Hi-Definition Serial Digital Interface)BNC connector.Used for Hi-Def Broadcast signals.
YCbCr (Color Component Video) Uses a 6-pin Mini-Din connector. The digital signal is separated into Y (the luma/brightness), Cb is the blue minus luma and Cr is red minus luma. The difference between YCbCr and RGB is that YCbCr represents brightness and two color difference signals, while RGB represents color as red, green and blue. YbCbCr takes advantage of the fact that the eye is more discriminating of brightness than color.
There are two types of face treatment on LCD monitors; Standard (non-glare) and Glare type.The
standard will diffuse ambient light reflections at the cost of
decreased contrast, while the Glare type will improve contrast, but at
the cost of higher reflections.
MOUNTING
LCD monitors use VESA mounting patterns.These standard mounting patterns allow compatibility between the various monitor and hardware manufacturers.
TRU-Vu Mounting patterns: 75mm x 75mm12", 19"; 100mm x 100mm20", 42"; 200mm x 100mm26", 42". Above patterns all use 4mm screwsThe larger displays (32"+) also utilize a method of mounting directly to the LCD module.The patterns are various, but mount manufacturers have universal mounts that adjust to meet these patterns. TRU-Vu SPECIFICS:
TRU-VuPROTECTIVE GLASS
TRU-Vu Monitors offers a unique protective glass panel for our LCD monitors.This panel is Anti-Reflective (A/R) on both sides to reduce internal reflections as well as external. Bonded panel technology:On smaller sized products, we can also offer a Optically-Bonded panel technology.This is a process of injecting a optical-grade epoxy resin between the LCD face and the glass protective panel.This technology vastly improves contrast and readability in high ambient light environments.
REMOTE CONTROL TRU-Vu monitors 20" and larger include Remote Controls.This allows all aspects of the LCD monitor to be adjusted through the remote.There are two remote configurations used depending on the model of display.
24VDC OPERATION
TRU-Vu LCD monitors 20" and larger operate on 24vdc.This allows an external power supply to be mounted a distance away from the display.By
remotely mounting the power supply, there are large savings in
installation costs when the display is to be located in an area where AC
power is not readily available.24VDC operation allows smaller gauge wire to be run to the display versus 12VDC operation.
SCREEN ASPECT CORRECTION
TheTRU-Vu
widescreen monitors have a Aspect Correction feature to display the
correct aspect ratio of a 4:3 camera image on a 16:9 display.This feature does not distort the image horizontally to fill the screen width.This is unique to TRU-Vu monitors.
SERVICE
WhileTRU-Vu monitors are extremely reliable, there could be an occasional problem.All TRU-Vu display products are serviced in Rockford, IL.Turn around time is typically less than one week, and advanced replacement products are often available.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TheTRU-Vu
Technical Support team is comprised of technicians who have an average
tenure of over 10 years in the Engineering/Technical Department.When you call with a question, the techs are on site and know the product first-hand.
CUSTOM PRODUCTS
With our vast inventory of available options and engineering capabilities, we can provide custom TRU-Vu
LCD monitors with all the features and functionality you need, at very
competitive prices. LCD panels, enclosures, video connections, special
features, private-labeling, custom mounting, and integrated accessory
devices are all available to meet your OEM requirements.
• The rating’s first digit i.e. IP 56 relates to the ingress protection against dust (5 means dust protected, see the table below) The second digit i.e. IP 56 relates to the ingress protection against water (6 means protected against heavy water jets, see the table below)
IP First Digit – Protection Against Solids
Level
Protection against Human/Tool Contact
Protection against solid objects (foreign bodies)
0
No special protection
1
Back of hand, Fist
Large foreign bodies, >50mm diameter
2
Finger
Medium-sized foreign bodies,>12 diameter
3
Tools, thick wires etc
Small foreign bodies, >2.5mm diameter
4
Thin wires, screws etc
Granular foreign bodies,>1mm diameter
5
Complete protection, (limited ingress permitted)
Dust protected; dust deposits are permitted, but their volume must not affect the function of the unit.
6
Complete protection
Dust-proof
IP Second Digit – Protection Against Liquids
Level
Protection against water
Protection from condition
0
No special protection
1
Water dripping/falling vertically
Condensation/Light rain
2
Water sprayed at an angle (up to 15º degrees from vertical)
Light rain with wind
3
Spray water (any direction up to 60º degrees from vertical)
Heavy rainstorm
4
Splashing/spray water from all directions, (limited ingress permitted)
Splashing
5
Low pressure water jets from all directions, (limited ingress permitted)
Hose down, residential
6
High pressure water jets from all directions, (limited ingress permitted)
Hose down, commercial.
7
Submersible (temporary), 15 cm to 1M
Immersion in tank
8
Permanent Submersion, under pressure, over 1 M depth
For use underwater
NEMA RATINGS
NEMA defines standards for various grades of enclosures. Each is rated to protect against designated environmental conditions such as water, dust etc. The following is a description of the NEMA ratings, and their approximate IP-rating equivalents.
NEMA Rating
Definition
Approx. IP Equivalent
1
General-purpose. Protects against dust, light, and indirect splashing but is not dust-tight; primarily prevents contact with live parts; used indoors and under normal atmospheric conditions.
IP10
2
Drip-tight. Similar to Type 1 but with addition of drip shields; used where condensation may be severe (as in cooling and laundry rooms).
IP11
3 and 3S
Weather-resistant. Protects against weather hazards such as rain and sleet; used outdoors on ship docks, in construction work, and in tunnels and subways.
IP54
3R
Intended for outdoor use. Provides a degree of protection against falling rain and ice formation. Meets rod entry, rain, external icing, and rust-resistance design tests.
IP14
4 and 4X
Watertight (weatherproof). Must exclude at least 65 GPM of water from 1-in. nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 ft for 5 min. Used outdoors on ship docks, in dairies, and in breweries.
IP56
5
Dust-tight. Provided with gaskets or equivalent to exclude dust; used in steel mills and cement plants.
IP52
6 and 6P
Submersible. Design depends on specified conditions of pressure and time; submersible in water or oil; used in quarries, mines, and manholes.
IP67
7
Hazardous. For indoor use in Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D environments as defined in the NEC.
—
8
Hazardous. For indoor and outdoor use in locations classified as Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D as defined in the NEC.
—
9
Hazardous. For indoor and outdoor use in locations classified as Class II, Groups E, F, or G as defined in the NEC.
—
10
MSHA. Meets the requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 CFR Part 18 (1978).
—
11
General-purpose. Protects against the corrosive effects of liquids and gases. Meets drip and corrosion-resistance tests.
—
12 and 12K
General-purpose. Intended for indoor use, provides some protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping noncorrosive liquids. Meets drip, dust, and rust resistance tests.
IP52
13
General-purpose. Primarily used to provide protection against dust, spraying of water and noncorrosive coolants. Meets oil exclusion and rust resistance design tests.
Typically, an LCD monitor will have a very good image as it comes out of the box.Additional improvements can be made to the display by adjusting the settings.The ideal tool to use is a grayscale pattern such as the SMPTE pattern or equivalent.This will allow the Brightness and Contrast to be set correctly without guessing.
1. With a representative image on the monitor screen, have the display "Auto Adjust".This will set the majority of the adjustments to their optimal level.
2. Set Brightness:With an image that displays Black portions, set the Brightness control to adjust these black portions to so they appear black and not gray.Set too low, the whole image will appear too dark, set too high, the image will appear washed out.
3. Next, Set Contrast:With an image that has White portions, set the Contrast so that the whites are bright without becoming over-saturated.There should be some definition between white and slightly darker regions of the image.
4. Once the Brightness and Contrast are set, the color temperature can be set. Choose 9300K (Cool) for a bluer image, 6500K (Warm) for a redder image, or USER to custom set the color temperature.Some displays offer an intermediate color temperature of 7500K.Color temperature can be subjective and greatly depends on the desired representation of the image.
