What makes a good rugged LCD display?
Brimar produces a wide range of flat panel monitors that have been fielded across a wide range of military vehicles, from MRAPs to Main Battle Tanks, but not all AMLCD displays are created equal. This page explains some of the huge amount of engineering that goes into every Brimar unit and sets them apart from other less rugged "industrial" designs.
Engineering challenges
- EMC/EMI – Transmitters and other devices can interfere with screen information, and interference from display screen and other display parts can affect communications if not properly dealt with at source.
- Screen frosting can damage LCD polarisers long term and make screen information impossible to read short term.
- Constant vibration can cause wear and dust to be produced internally, which degrades performance and mechanical integrity.
- Lack of thermal management can cause damage due to thermal shock of components, or in any case incorrect or non-viable screen operation.
- Lack of common mode noise rejection allows other system components to cause noise and interference on display screen, or poor data communications to and from screen.
- LCD panels are easily damaged unless properly protected against mechanical damage.
- Displays can use large amounts of power, most of which ends up as heat if designs not efficient.
- Rugged displays can be unnecessarily large and heavy if not designed ergonomically.
Rigorous qualification
All displays are designed for a huge range of potential environmental challenges, with units then qualified against a range of DEF-STAN or MIL-STD tests as required by specific customer requirements. Units are designed to operate to over wide temperature ranges and can also be qualified for the following:
- Low Pressure
- Air Transportation
- Sealed Driving Rain and Dust/Sand
- Chemical & Biological Protection
- Fungal Growth
- Corrosion, Salt, Fluid Contamination
- Humidity
- Shock
- Vibration
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- EMC
- Nuclear
- Boot Kick and Drop Test
