Where do train companies get their weird-sized LCDs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Romain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 08:04:46 pm
content: Aboard a Great Western Railway (GWR) service in the UK (sorry, nothing to do with the steam train in BTTF3...) I couldn't help but ask myself where do they get these weird-a** LCDs?1. What's the resolution for these? Is it an uncommon standard?2. Are they manufactured as-is, or is it a cut-LCD? (apparently that's a thing: companies buy off the shelf panels and cut them to size...)3. Where to get them? And how much would they cost?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 08:20:35 pm
content: Probably custom made for the signage manufacturer.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 09:04:48 pm
content: Hi Romain, as mikeselectricstuff says they're probably custom manufactured. Usually anything that uses displays in high volumes, like microwave ovens for example is custom manufactured. BTW haven't travelled on the GWR line for mearly a year, is that the new Hitachi diesel electric ?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 09:10:00 pm
content: They're not custom and are mass produced. Look for "bar display lcd" on google. Lots of OEMs sell them.We bought some for booth signage at a trade fair. Something that size is only around £300 a go.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 09:45:50 pm
content: Apologies, I should more clear, it might not be full custom but if you buy enough of them then the OEM will "tweak" things to meet the signage manufacturers specification. It might be the sort of part where the OEM doesn't publish a data sheet and only the manufacturer can purchase them, custom but not full custom if you get my drift.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2018, 10:01:15 pm
content: True. Fair point.Ours came with android embedded video player for ref. Which was buggy as hell.

author: Romain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 07:38:35 am
content: Quote from: chris_leyson on September 13, 2018, 09:04:48 pmNo, believe it or not the new Hitachi have dot matrix displays...https://youtu.be/9L_lBsiuMOE?t=1m56sLooks awfully similar:http://trainfx.com/passenger-information-system/

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 07:49:26 am
content: Quote from: Romain on September 14, 2018, 07:38:35 amLEDs are still popular for information displays - nice and bright, and can be made in any shape or size, and in volume probably similar cost to an industrial LCD

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 08:55:01 am
content: Must say I prefer the LEDs. They seem to be a hell of a lot more reliable than LCD displays in public. Less junk driving them to go wrong.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 08:59:00 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on September 14, 2018, 08:55:01 amAnd even if the odd LED or driver fails, you can usually still read them

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 09:00:03 am
content: Exactly that.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 09:12:11 am
content: I've worked for a couple of companies who are involved with the rail industry, one does electronic station signage and trackside communications, the other is heavily involved in rolling stock maintenance, repair, refurb and manufacture, the majority of the electronics guts I've seen is manufactured specifically for rail industry use but it's entirely possible the actual glass is a high quality off the shelf bit that's been fully qualified for the application and wrapped up with a custom controller.And yes, it's fun wandering round the repair sheds and yards.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 09:25:41 am
content: The global market for signage is surprisingly large. Although the NRE for a custom high res colour LCD panel can be quite high, if you can spread that over quite a lot of units it might make sense. However, many places have decided they might as well make space for a standard 16:9 panel, and have space to display additional information. That might be limiting the market for these custom panels to places with a low ceiling, like metro tunnels, where a 16:9 panel won't fit overhead.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 09:27:45 am
content: Found this when looking around wholesalers:Definitely a market!