Displays
Colour STN displays with on-board controller from Anders Electronics
Anders Electronics has introduced small sizes to its colour STN (CSTN) range of displays and now offers displays in sizes of 2.2-inch, 2.8-inch and 2.9-inch, delivering an easy to integrate and highly cost-effective alternative to TFT-LCDs for designers targeting small, low resolution form factors. The new modules will be of particular interest to designers familiar with STN interface technology looking to migrate to colour without the associated expense of redesign to TFT.
All The new range includes a 2.2-inch CSTN featuring a resolution of 128 (RGB) x 64 pixels and offered as a space-efficient module measuring 69.8mm x 85.2mm. A 6V LED backlight delivers screen brightness up to 300cd/m2, with built-in DC/DC converter, while the 60:1 contrast ratio provides sharp definition for graphics and images. The 8-bit parallel interface is suitable for use with an 8080-compatible host MCU.
The 2.8-inch CSTN measures 79.4mm x 69.3mm, and features 128 (RGB) x 128 pixels with a 3.2V LED backlight producing up to 212cd/m2. The controller provided implements a 6800-compatible interface for easy integration to a wide variety of host controllers.
The ultra-thin 2.9-inch CSTN with a thickness of only 1.6mm and offering 128 (RGB) x 160 pixels has a 9.6V LED backlight delivering a total screen brightness up to 210cd/m2. The contrast ratio ensures clear, crisp images, while the 16-bit 8080-compatible interface provides support for complex graphics and imaging modes.
All of the CSTNs introduced by Anders operate from –20°C to +70°C, to serve a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications requiring improved aesthetics and user-interface graphics capabilities.
Common features across the range include a built-in DC-to-DC converter, as well as an integrated controller on a flexible printed-circuit tail to simplify mechanical and electrical integration whilst minimising associated hardware costs. The flexible connector also has alignment holes and attached tape to facilitate assembly. The displays feature a backing plate with L-groove design to protect the corners of the LCD.
By introducing CSTN displays in these small sizes, Anders Electronics has streamlined the upgrade path to full colour functionality for numerous devices currently using monochrome displays. These include control panels, data logging terminals, instrumentation and portable devices, allowing enhancement of man-machine interfaces to improve usability and support higher functionality in the end product.
This series of CSTN displays benefits from low power consumption, wide temperature and high brightness suitable for outdoor or indoor use as well as harsh environments. As a further aid to integration, Anders Electronics provides technical support and applications assistance for customers using these new CSTNs, as well as other displays in the company’s comprehensive range of LCDs and single-board computers (SBCs) addressing a wide variety of applications.