With the proliferation of devices being deployed to harsh environments, commercial off-theshelf (COTS) parts are needed to keep up with the demand. And since LCDs can be found in just about every new design, it would be nice to have a controller that could handle the environment without batting a logic bit.
That's why Digital View added two models to its Harsh Environment (HE) series of COTS LCD controller boards.The HE-1400 and HE-1600 are specifically designed to comply with the strict standards required to operate in harsh environments, such as those encountered in typical military and rugged industrial application deployments.
The HE-1400 and HE-1600 comply with the European Union's Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and operate from â??40°C to 80°C. They also feature Mil-Spec silicon resin conformal coatings, wide-tolerance power supplies (12 V dc ±25%), lowmass tantalum capacitors for shock and vibration tolerance, and a calculated mean time between failures (MTBF) of more than 150,000 hours (see the figure).
The HE-1400 board has a small footprint of 4.2 by 3.6 in. and an integrated controller with digital visual interface (DVI) and alpha red green blue (ARGB) inputs. It supports both low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) and transistor-transistor logic (TTL) in either 4:3 format at up to SXGA resolution or 16:9 format at up to WXGA resolution.
The HE-1600 series targets TFT panels with up to UXGA resolution by providing direct analog and digital connections via a fully buffered multi-sync interface controller. It can also speak DVI, dual VGA, Composite, S-Video, and Component Video in both 4:3 and 16:9 formats. Also, it provides Digital View's proprietary serial port protocol, enabling all controller functions and parameters to be controlled via a built-in RS232 serial port.
Several available accessories make the controllers compatible with a range of applications, such as an audio amplifier, inverter interface board, on-screen display (OSD) button board, OSD membrane kits, and infrared remote control.
If you aren't quite satisfied with the standard offerings, the company can create custom hardware and software variations. It offers documentation control, revision histories, and extended product lifetime programs with end-of-life management to prevent obsolescence as well.
The HE-1400 costs $110 and the HE- 1600 is $180, both in 1000-piece quantities. Both products are available via Digital View's distributors and come standard with a three-year warranty.
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