Optical Bonding and Display Enhancements

Sometimes displays are used in environments that require greater legibility in direct sunlight or bright ambient lighting conditions. Displays used in avionics, digital signage, vehicle navigation, outdoor television and hand-carried electronic devices generally benefit from better readibility offered when optical bonding with anti-reflective surface treatments is applied. Of course, improved display readability in some of these applications, like aviation and driving a speeding police car, are activities where slow time to perception could be life threatening.

Planar's optical bonding facility, located in Beaverton, OR, can help you with all of your optical bonding requirements. With ISO-9001 quality systems, MIL-spec and FDA-level standards, extensive in-house optical test verification capabilities and class 10,000 certified clean room and other environmental controls in place, you can be assured that your display project will meet your legibility requirements with Planar's optical bonding and surface treatments.

As you might guess, there are many criteria to consider when selecting an optical bonding vendor. However, Planar has made it easy by providing an optical bonding vendor checklist. This checklist provides a list of capabilities and standards you'll want to take into consideration when making a decision about selecting your optical bonding vendor.

Is optical bonding a requirement for your display project?

Planar Displays New Products at Society for Information Display Show

Planar featured several new prototype products recently at the SID 2009 Exhibition in San Antonio, TX, along with a wide range of the Electroluminescent products seen here that meet your needs for an ultra-wide temperature range, rugged at-a-glance viewing and proven technology display.

For the first time, Planar exhibited a green EL display featuring a wide viewing angle, alongside the existing transparent EL display that features unique, adaptive, rugged see-through technology. Also on exhibit were the marine and mining displays and a StereoMirror 3D display.

What type of display are you looking for? Request Planar's Design Guide to learn more.

Mobile Communication System Aids Fire Department

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department recently installed a full-blown communication equipment package inside the department's public information vehicle. Tricked out with a keyboard, touch-screen monitor and flat-panel television which folds neatly in the rear of the sport utility vehicle, the County Emergency Operations Center can receive vital information in a matter of minutes.

With peak fire season on the horizon, the communication equipment will help provide faster updates to the public on any urgent evacuation messages and save valuable time. Planar's LX1200TI display was part of the communication package and is perfect for public safety vehicle applications. Key features like transflective AMLCD for daylight/night viewing, clear glass touchscreen and rugged design provide benefits critical in emergency situations.

What other emergency service vehicles would benefit from a communication display like this one?

Vehicle Data Bus Terminal for Heavy Equipment

We've been busy with a lot of transportation applications. Our latest development is a collaboration with Vehicle Monitor Coproration to add our electroluminescent displays to the VMC SmartDisplay. Check out the announcement at

We have a 10 year history working with VMC. This latest announcement is targeted at applying the viewing performance of EL with VMC's rapid application development platform and experience with vehicle data bus technology. Here are just a few of the key benefits:

• SAE J1708, J1939, CAN and other bus protocol options
• Tools for rapid development of user interface
• Rugged and dependable - proven in thousands of Class 8 trucking, mining, forestry, and other specialty vehicles
• Display lasts over 100,000 hours
• Wide temp range (-40°C to +85°C) with "instant on" display capability
• Daytime brightness and nighttime dimming for comfortable viewing

View the VMC SmartDisplay or check out the FAQ.