Xinglu Technology (Hebei) Co., Ltd.
Xinglu Technology (Hebei) Co., Ltd.

Glossary of LED Display Industry Terms and Function Explanations

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    Comprehensive Guide to LED Displays: From Basic Concepts to Technical Specifications

    Core Concepts of LED Display

    Basic Definitions

    LED (Light Emitting Diode) in the display industry specifically refers to diodes that emit light in the visible spectrum. A Pixel is the smallest light-emitting unit of an LED display, equivalent to the pixel concept in standard monitors.

    Structure and Modules

    Pixel Pitch refers to the distance between the centers of adjacent pixels, determining the visual clarity of the display. An LED Display Module is the smallest independent unit composed of multiple display pixels, commonly configured in specifications like 8×8, 5×7, etc., assembled into display panels through specific circuits and structures.

    Packaging Technology and Display Types

    Major Packaging Processes

    Packaging Type
    Full Name
    Characteristics
    Application Scenarios
    DIP
    Dual In-line Package
    Wide viewing angle, high brightness, good heat dissipation
    Outdoor high-brightness applications
    SMT
    Surface Mount Technology
    Soft display, high pixel density
    Indoor close-range viewing
    Sub-SMT
    Hybrid Process
    High brightness, excellent display quality
    Specific professional applications

    Display Color Classification

    • Dual-color Display: Two-color combination (red+green or yellow+green)

    • Pseudo-color Display: Three-color combination (red+yellow-green+blue)

    • Full-color Display: Three primary colors (red+pure green+pure blue) for true color display


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    Detailed Key Performance Parameters

    Optical Characteristics

    Luminance (unit: cd/㎡) refers to the luminous intensity per unit area. Brightness Level and Grayscale Level respectively indicate the number of brightness adjustment steps and grayscale processing steps at the same brightness. Contrast Ratio is the ratio of maximum brightness to background brightness under specific ambient illumination.

    Color and Visual Properties

    White Balance refers to the 3:6:1 brightness ratio balance of RGB colors. Color Temperature represents the blackbody radiation temperature of the light source color (unit: K). Refresh Rate and Refresh Frequency affect display smoothness, referring respectively to information update frequency and image redraw frequency.

    Viewing Experience Parameters

    • Viewing Angle: Observation angle when brightness drops to half of the normal line brightness

    • Optimal Viewing Angle: Angular range where the image appears complete, with true colors and optimal clarity

    • Optimal Viewing Distance: Distance directly facing the screen for the best viewing effect

    Driving and Control Technology

    Drive Method Comparison

    Static Drive uses point-to-point control, with higher cost but better display quality and stability. Scan Drive uses point-to-column control requiring row control circuits, with lower cost but reduced brightness and stability.

    Signal Processing

    Gamma Correction processes raw signals through nonlinear functions to solve color distortion in LED displays. Real Pixel, Virtual Pixel, and Pixel Sharing technologies optimize display effects through different physical-to-display pixel mapping relationships.

    System and Control Interfaces

    Control Systems

    Synchronous Systems display content in real-time sync with computers, while Asynchronous Systems can operate offline with stored content. Remote Control is achieved through LAN or internet, meeting control requirements at different distances.

    Transmission Medium Selection

    • Network Cable Transmission: Distance < 100 meters

    • Multimode Fiber: 100-500 meters

    • Single-mode Fiber: > 500 meters

    Interface Standards

    DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and VGA (Video Graphics Array) are common video signal interfaces. USB Interface supports hot-plugging for convenient peripheral connection.

    Detection and Maintenance Technology

    Fault Detection

    Dead Pixel Detection Technology detects abnormally lit pixels through combined hardware and software. Power Supply Monitoring monitors power supply status in real-time to ensure system stability.

    Environmental Adaptation

    Ambient Light Detection measures environmental brightness through light sensors, while Brightness Adjustment automatically adjusts display brightness based on detection results, achieving energy savings and adaptation to different lighting conditions.

    Mobile Communication and Emerging Technologies

    Wireless Communication Applications

    GPRS Technology enables small-data remote transmission and control of LED screens through mobile data networks, suitable for distributed display systems.

    ARM System Applications

    Control systems based on ARM Processors support multiple communication methods (peer-to-peer, LAN, internet, serial port) and feature rich PC interfaces, widely used in asynchronous control fields.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    What is LED?

    LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. In the display industry, "LED" specifically refers to diodes that emit light in the visible spectrum, serving as the basic light-emitting components of LED displays.

    What are the main types of LED displays?

    Mainly divided into through-hole (DIP) packaging, surface-mount (SMT) packaging, and sub-SMT. DIP is suitable for outdoor high-brightness applications, SMT for indoor close-range viewing, and sub-SMT is a hybrid process combining both.

    How to choose pixel pitch?

    Pixel pitch selection depends on viewing distance and installation environment. Generally, indoor close-range viewing requires smaller pixel pitch (e.g., P1.2-P3), while outdoor long-distance viewing can use larger pitch (e.g., P4-P10).

    What's the difference between synchronous and asynchronous systems?

    Synchronous systems display content in real-time sync with computers, requiring continuous connection; asynchronous systems can store content and operate offline, functioning even when the computer is disconnected.

    What is the lifespan of LED displays?

    Typically 50,000-100,000 hours, with actual lifespan affected by usage environment, heat dissipation conditions, frequency of use, etc. Regular maintenance and proper use can extend display lifespan.

    How to maintain LED screens?

    Regularly clean the display surface, check connection lines, ensure proper heat dissipation system operation, avoid prolonged full-load operation, and promptly replace damaged components.

    How to calculate LED display power consumption?

    Total power consumption = Average power consumption (W/㎡) × Display area (㎡) × Usage time (hours). Actual consumption is affected by content brightness, refresh rate, and other factors.

    What factors should be considered when installing LED displays?

    Consider installation environment, viewing distance and angle, power supply conditions, heat dissipation requirements, waterproof rating (outdoor), maintenance accessibility, and control system layout.


    Mark Ma

    Mark Ma is an rental LED display specialist with over 12 years of industry experience, focusing on product development and system integration. He holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Xidian University (Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology).

    He has led several international LED projects across Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise includes pixel pitch optimization, energy efficiency, and display calibration.

    As a senior advisor at RoleHeller, Mark shares practical insights to help clients better understand LED technologies and select the right solutions for their projects.

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