LED display technology has undergone several research and development iterations to create various types of displays. Also, the need for displays in multiple sectors has contributed to the diversification of LED displays. In this article, we explore some of the common types of LED displays you will encounter in the market.
Different types of LED Displays
There are different approaches used to classify LED displays. For this article, we will group the various types based on aspects such as color spectrum, LED technology, pixel configuration, etc.
Types of LED displays based on technology
LED display technology refers to the specific method used to package LEDs on the panel. A light-emitting diode (LED) is a tiny semiconductor chip that emits light when electrons pass through it. The amount, color, and type of light these chips produce depends on various factors, such as their size. This is what gives us the different types of LED displays.
Micro LED
These types of LED displays have taken the industry by storm for their unusual capabilities. Micro LEDs are displays essentially made of microscopic LED chips. As you already know, the size of the the LED chips controls most of the features of the display.
Micro LED displays are self-emissive and inorganic. This makes them more suitable for applications where high luminance is required. Micro LEDs are grown using a process known as epitaxy and transferred to the emission layer of the display.
Direct-lit LED
The differentiating factor in this type of LED display is the arrangement and positioning of the LED chips used for backlighting. Specifically, the chips are positioned on the back of the LCD layer.
The main advantage of direct-lit LED panels is the local dimming feature. This feature allows the display to light up independently which means that when the image is dark, the pixels on that region will not light up. This explains the high contrast capabilities of direct-lit LED displays.
Edge-lit LED
The edge-lit LED display is the opposite of the direct-lit LED. In this case, the LEDs are positioned on the edge of the panel. Unlike direct-lit LEDs, edge-lit LEDs do not have local dimming capabilities, resulting in poor contrast. On the flip side, they are more sleek and thin since there is no extra substrate layer for holding the LED chips.
OLED
OLED is an acronym that stands for organic light emitting diode. These displays are special types of LED screens since they lack a backlighting layer. Instead, its structure consists of an emissive layer that is responsible for luminance.
OLED screens are quite bright, which produces vivid color images. Due to the local dimming technology, OLEDs also have high contrast. One setback of OLEDs is their susceptibility to burn-in effects. Overall, they are among the best types of LED displays.
Quantum-dot (QLED)
QLED was developed to make LED chips tinier. The LED chips in a QLED display are so tiny at quantum levels. The pixels making up the display are also known as quantum-dot semiconductors.
QLEDs perform better than OLED displays. They are much more durable in terms of pixel aging and do not form a burn-in effect on the screen. This technology, which was originally developed by Samsung, has taken the world by storm.
Types of LED displays based on the color spectrum
The color spectrum is another aspect used to categorize LED displays. You are probably aware that the visible color spectrum is quite broad. This is why the human eye can see up to ten million colors. The color mixing technology equipped with LED displays is able to produce up to 16 million colors.
There are three major categories of LED displays based on color spectrums.
Monochrome LEDs
As the name suggests, these types of LED displays only emit a single color. In other words, these are single-color displays that are capable of producing images in one color. A common characteristic of monochrome LEDs is that the LED chips are pretty huge in size. This explains why most of these displays are used in signage and billboards.
Bi-color LEDs
These types of LED displays are capable of emitting two colors from the visible spectrum. In most cases, these colors are red and green. You will find these LEDs being used in industries such as construction for signage.
Full-color LEDs
Most of the modern LED displays fall under this category. Full-color LEDs describe displays that are capable of producing up to 16 million colors from the three primary colors, red, blue, and green.
The pixels in full-color LED displays consist of three LED chips that carry the three primary colors. Using a color mixing algorithm, the LED controller can form all the desired colors on the image according to the pixel information. That said, full-color LED displays have higher pixel densities to support image clarity.
Types of LED displays based on pixel configuration
The configuration of the pixels on the substrate is another aspect that can be used to classify LED displays. Pixel configuration refers to the arrangement and encapsulation. Let us explore the common pixel configurations you should expect to find on LED displays.
Fine pitch LEDs
When you see an LED display lablled fine-pitch, just know that it has quite high resolution. Fine pitch means that the LED pixels are packed closely to each other, which ultimately increases the pixel density on the display. Pixel pitch is the distance from one pixel to the next, and the smaller the distance, the better the resolution of the display.
Medium pixel pitch
These types of LED displays have a higher pixel pitch than the fine pitch counterparts. In most cases, the distance between pixels in these displays range between 5 and 10 milimeters. Such displays have an okay resolution even though they cannot be used for close up viewing. They are therefore suitable for video walls and signage.
Large pixel pitch
If a display has a pixel pitch of above 10 mm, it can be referred to as large pixel pitch display. These displays are suitable for viewing from a long distance, such as roadside billboards.
Types of LED displays based on application
There are several applications of LED displays. This aspect can be used to categorize displays based on the environment where it is used. Commonly, LED displays are either used indoors, outdoors, or with moving vehicles.
Indoor LED Displays
Several types of LED displays fit this category. Indoor LED displays have features such as high brightness, high contrast, and high resolution. These are essential features since they promote better viewing experience for the user. These displays are also made to have an aesthetic appela to complement interior decor.
Outdoor LED displays
Several LED displays fit this category. The outdoor environment requires consideration of factors such as the weather and human interference. Therefore, most of the displays used in this category have IP ratings and are reinforced to sustain the harsh conditions. They are also modular to promote flexible sizing and shaping.
Mobile LED displays
These LED displays are meant to be installed on moving vehicles. They are mostly used for advertising or entertainment, depending on the user. Their size also varies from small taxi LED display to custom sizes for any fittings. Designing mobile LED displays is a trend that is gaining so much traction in several modern cities.
Conclusion
LED displays are appearing every day. Different technologies, use cases, and features from leading manufacturers are on the rise. Moreover, with rapid technological advancements, the future of LED displays is bright. Click here to learn more about how we design, test, and manufacture top-of-the-line LED displays.