Our controller boards communicate with other devices via the “aout” command, which can send ASCII text out to any serial port on the display controller. SLCD boards do not have any GPIO for signal control (this is available on G2C1 and G2H2 modules). Please let Reach Technology Technical Support know if you have any other concepts of “control.”
We specialize in displays for medical and industrial applications and only support LCD form factors that are “industry standard,” which means they will be available for 5-7 years or longer. The smaller displays (under 4.3″) tend to be device-specific and therefore change every 18 months. Suppose you’re not already aware of the vagaries of the LCD market and especially of the availability of LCD products. In that case, you might want to read, “The LCD business is very different from others.”
Although the gaskets used in our enclosed units provide an effective waterproof seal and dustproof seal, they currently do not have a NEMA or IP rating. For more details, visit mounting options.
Our enclosed units have passed the EMC and EMI requirements of the CE certification. All our boards are RoHS-2 compliant using a lead-free solder assembly process. Metalwork is also RoHS-2 compliant (see RoHS-2 details). We are assembling the technical file needed for self CE certification. Please feel free to contact us regarding this or for a copy of the EMC/EMI test report.
Touch panels are not rated for continuous water exposure, mostly for aesthetic reasons (e.g., dried water leaves mineral spots on the screens). Also, it would be best to seal the screen to the bezel since water cannot be allowed to get on the edge of the panel. You can make it waterproof by using a thin (10 mil / 0.010″) clear polycarbonate layer on top. Maverick Label can make these and add a back-printed border, so you only see the active panel area. See also “Silicon Foam Gaskets” in Mounting Options.
We have some high-brightness options, but brightness alone does not make a screen sunlight/daylight readable. Some of our customers use a shroud to shade the screen. We do have the capability of creating an outdoor-readable screen if we have a lead customer to justify the investment. See custom modules for more information.
Most Reach Technology controller boards are rated for commercial operation from 0° to 70°C. Humidity is max 90% at 40°C non-condensing. Compare Modules by Technical Specifications
We have not tested the altitude at which these units can be used. Our display modules are not recommended for aircraft applications.
Ruggedized displays are not our core competency. We suggest that you look at products from Beijer Electronics designed for rugged applications.
You may want to get UL, CSA, or ETL approval for your product that incorporates a Reach Technology display controller or module. One question that the agency may ask is the screen's flammability rating, which is pertinent only to displays that use high voltage CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlighting as voltages above the ELV (or SELV) limit are present for these backlights. Voltages that do not exceed the ELV limit drive LED backlights, and thus the flammability of the display typically does not need to be considered. While this is not an exhaustive explanation of the issue, it helps direct those uninitiated into the intricacies of the rating agency requirements. If you are applying for UL certification and your product contains a Reach Technology product, please contact Technical Support for materials that the UL certification body requires.
