Get the best out of LCD Videowalls for Control Room Applications

Get the best out of LCD Videowalls for Control Room Applications

LCD videowalls in control rooms are the nerve centres of some operations. High quality wall displays are critical for control room applications so operators can make decisions that have profound impact on production or other involved processes. These Large videowalls form the basis of Distribution Control Systems (or DCS) and Supervisory-Control and Data-Acquisition systems (or SCADA).

What is an LCD Videowall ?

A videowall consists of a number of LCD Display panels that have been “tiled” together to form one large display. Technology has advanced to the point where the bezels (the frames around each panel) are very thin, allowing the videowall to appear almost seamless.

Why is a Videowall Important ?

The demand for LCD videowalls for use in control rooms continues to grow. They are critical for control room applications such as:

>> Manufacturing process control
>> Mission control in defense and Aeronautics industries
>> Utilities management
>> Security and Surveillance
>> Traffic management
>> Network operations
>> Emergency operation control

Every individual panel of a videowall operates with very high pixel density and clarity. When the panels are combined, the overall large image is incredibly sharp. By contrast, enlarging a projector display reduces detail because pixels have been enlarged or stretched.

Even though the applications may vary, the requirements for LCD videowalls tend to follow similar patterns. Start by defining the display requirements for your particular application before selecting any equipment or configuration.

Other Videowall Design considerations

The LCD Panels used in Control Room videowalls must be of a higher grade than the average ones used by consumers. These specially designed Displays place a greater emphasis on performance, reliability and precision Digital Imaging.

Factors such as these must be taken into consideration when designing an LCD videowall for Control Room applications:

>> How many panels? How many will make the display large enough for the control room operator to see every detail crisply? How many is too many and will make the display difficult to take in?
>> While a videowall functions as one display, it is in fact a system. It isn’t a matter of just putting up some panels and switching them on. The display as whole must be integrated with your systems, software and power grid. Experts must determine what is compatible. Then it must be configured so all displays fit the screens exactly as you require.
>> Processor Power. With so much information input and output simultaneously, the internal processor will have many demands placed on it. Experts will help determine your needs and systems compatibility along with specific interfacing requirements with other machineries.
>> Viewing Angle. An operator will move around the control room during regular operations or there may be several operators seated at various locations. Uniform view quality from all angles is important.
>> Brightness and Color-balancing. The color and brightness must match from panel to panel, otherwise the entire video wall will have a checkerboard appearance. Good videowall displays have color sensors built in to allow automatic adjustment and balancing.
>> Gaps or seams between panels. The less you see of bezels, the less image distortion there is. Wider panel dividers may obstruct some crucial details.

At the end of the day, your videowall is a significant investment and needs to operate perfectly, provide precision Digital Imaging, and integrate with the applications and systems used in your control-room. The success of your business and the safety of your employees depend on all of these things.

Not all LCD Displays are created equally. Do your research and ask for the experts who can provide a customized LCD videowall turnkey service from concept to installation to maintenance.

Creative Commons Attribution:
Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Highness Microelectronics Pvt. Ltd.



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