LED Screen FAQs

LED Display FAQs

Led Display

A LED display uses light-emitting diodes as a video display. A LED panel is a small display, or a component of a larger display. They are typically used in store signs and billboards, and in recent years have also become commonly used in destination signs on public transport vehicles. LED panels are sometimes used as form of lighting, for the purpose of general illumination, task lighting, or even stage lighting rather than display.

First question before you buy a Led display is " where will it be used? “. (Indoor or Outdoor)

Led Pitch

One of the most important question when you buy a Led Display.

Pitch stands for distant between the pixels. Example P10 = distance between pixels =10mm.

Pixel can exist of more leds. In Full color solution they have 3 leds in 1 pixel (red green blue)

Pitch will determine the viewing distance and the resolution. The smaller the pitch the smaller the viewing distance.

To determine the right pitch is not easy. First you have to determine the viewing distance before you can choose the pitch.

Indoor will mostly have a small pitch. (P4-P6-P7.62...) because the minimal viewing distance is small.

Outdoor will have a bigger pitch. (starting from P10...)

Resolution is the basic measurement of how much information a screen shows based on the total number of pixels within the display area and is a significant factor in determining image quality.

Led Display Resolution

The display resolution of Led display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed.

It is usually quoted as width × height, with the units in pixels: for example, "1024×768" means the width is 1024 pixels and the height is 768 pixels.

When the Led Display should display clear text. The resolution is very important (like information displays) Most characters on an information display should be around 8 leds high and 5 leds width.

Led Display Viewing Distance

Led viewing distance depends on the pitch and resolution. The smaller the pitch the more expensive and it could be a waste of money. Because the human eye has some limits that can`t see the details once the sign is far away. So it will be a waste of money to buy a small pitch if the distance is very far.

Easy way is to know the minimal viewing distance is to use the pitch in meters. For example, P10 minimal viewing distance is 10 meter, P5= 5 meter, P7.62 is +/- 8 meters.

Led Display Brightness

Indoor Brightness: 1000-1500 nits is enough for most indoor use.

Outdoor Brightness<15meter: 2000 nits is enough for most situations

Outdoor Brightness cope with direct sun: up to 5,000 cd/m² should be enough in most situations

To determine the right brightness is very important because if the brightness is too high it will reduce the Led Display lifetime and increase the cost. (power consumption, more expensive leds...) Also it might dazzle the eyes

For outdoor use it`s possible to add an automatic light sensor to keep the brightness optimal.

Something that most people should know about led brightness, 20% of the brightness will be lost after first 2000 hours of working. (approx. 3 months) After that the brightness will be more stable and will decrease very slowly in 80 000 hours.

So be sure you take this into account because most suppliers will not mention it and if the specifications show you 5000 cd/m² it will not be enough, after 3 months it will decrease to 4000 cd/m² and in certain application it is just not enough.

Some suppliers might overkill the leds to supply more than 20mA each (is the limit for most of de Leds) Led to cut the costs and reach the higher brightness. This will decrease the lifetime of the leds in a very short time.

Led Display Viewing Angle

Indoor Viewing angle: Mostly around 120 degree vertical and horizontal and is standard and will satisfy most situations.

Outdoor Viewing angle: Mostly around 110 degree horizontal and 70 degree vertical

Outdoor Brightness cope with direct sun: up to 5,000 cd/m² should be enough in most situations

Bigger angle is not always better. The bigger led angle the more power consumption is needed and could lead to a waste of energy. In some traffic equipment the maximum viewing angle is limited.

Led Display Led Type

Indoor Led Displays: SMD (surface mounted diode) Red Green Blue leds in one package

Outdoor Led Displays: DIP (dual inline package) Red Green Blue leds packed separated

SMD Led Advantages: Big viewing angle, take less space, smooth result from short distance

DIP Led Advantages: Waterproof, Very high brightness

SMD Outdoor Type: SMD 5050 is a new kind that is used for Outdoor applications. A high brightness SMD that is waterproof. But still weak against UV. This type is now stable and will be more developed in the future.

Led Display Color

Commercial Led Displays: Most commercial led displays are full color. 3 (Red,Green,Blue) Leds in each Pixel = Full color. Each color has 255 grades. Red (255) green (255) blue (255) = 16 million colors combination for each pixel.

Information Led Displays: single and dual color will mostly be chosen. Full color could be a waste and power consumption are also much higher. (depends on customer requirement)

When you choose dual colors it sometimes also be mixed. For example: Red & Green could mix yellow

Led Display Module

A Led display is made of many led panels and each led panel is made of many led modules. Each led module is made of many leds.

Each supplier will have their own standard modules for each pitch.

The Size of a led display is determined by the total combination of led modules.

Commercial Displays: Depends on the resolution, pitch, Led modules. Most sizes are possible for big led displays they mostly combine led panels.

Information Displays: It depends on the total characters they want to display. Each character will have around 8(height)x5(width) led each character

Full led matrix is a led display full of leds. All the leds are arranged in rows and columns. Commercial signs are mostly full matrix with this kind of displays you can display any picture/ Video on the screen.

In some applications it`s not needed to have differ kind of pictures so they will use a fixed solution.

Led Type

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source.

Light-emitting diodes are used in applications as diverse as replacements for aviation lighting, automotive lighting, as well as in traffic signals. LEDs have allowed new text, video displays, and sensors to be developed.

DIP: Dual inline package led Will mostly be used in outdoor applications and are water proof. Led displays mostly will use an oval shaped DIP led. Oval leds have a Horizontal angle of 110 degrees and Vertical 70 degrees. Brightness is very high.

SMD: Surface mountable device leds will mostly be used in indoor applications. Horizontal and vertical angle of 120 degrees. Lower brightness compared with DIP.