Displays | Summit Electronics

FAQ's about Displays

Which camera is best for Raspberry Pi projects?

Raspberry Pi MIPI cameras are ideal as they offer direct plug-and-play connectivity with the Pi’s MIPI CSI interface.

Are your cameras compatible with standard MCUs and CPUs?

Yes, USB cameras work broadly across MCUs and CPUs, and universal DVP cameras are designed for MCU-based embedded video applications.

Can I use Summit Electronics cameras with AI or high-performance computing boards?

Yes, Jetson MIPI cameras are designed for NVIDIA Jetson and other high-end embedded boards, making them suitable for AI-intensive and high-performance applications. Speak to our sales team for further information.

What types of cameras does Summit Electronics offer?

We provide Raspberry Pi MIPI cameras, Jetson MIPI cameras, USB cameras, and universal DVP cameras, covering a wide range of embedded and general-purpose applications.

What is the benefit of an AF Coating on your Display?

AF Coating – Quick FAQ

What is AF Coating?
AF (Anti-Fingerprint) Coating is a special layer that repels water, dirt, and fingerprints, keeping your display cleaner for longer.

Why is it useful?
Water droplets bead up and roll off easily, making the display more usable in outdoor conditions like rain or humidity.

Does it affect the display?
No — it’s ultra-thin, crystal clear, and does not affect brightness, colors, or touch sensitivity.

See it in action:
Watch this short video to see how water slides off a display with AF Coating.

For a video explainer please click here: AF Coating video

What are the advantages of using FPCs?

There are several benefits to using FPCs, their space efficiency allows for compact designs, ideal for tight spaces. As well as being flexible, which allows bending folding, their lightweight nature is perfect for portable or dynamic applications. FPCs are also very durable, and are resistant to vibrations and thermal stresses.

How are custom FPCs manufactured?

The initial circuit layout is created using CAD software, and appropriate substrates and copper thicknesses are chosen. During fabrication, copper traces are etched onto the flexible substrate. Other components, such as resistors and capacitors can also be added to the FPC, generally using surface mount technology.

What components are included on a cable assembly?

Whilst all custom cable assemblies are different, a typical assembly usually consists of conductors, insulation, connectors and a protective sheath.

Should I use a Cable Assembly or a Custom FPC?

There is no correct answer for this, as it’s all project dependant, here is a simple table to help make that decision.

Feature	Custom Cable Assemblies	FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuits)

Construction	Bundled discrete insulated wires & connectors	Printed copper traces on a flexible substrate
Flexibility	Moderate; bulky bundle, bends limited	High flexibility; bendable, foldable
Size & Weight	Bulkier and heavier	Very thin and lightweight (up to ~90% lighter)
Wiring Density	Limited by wire gauge and connector count	High-density routing; multi-layer options
Signal vs Power	Supports power and signal in same harness	Mostly signal transmission; not suited for high power
Customization	Custom length, connector types, sleeving, etc	CAD-designed: custom trace layout, layers, shape
Installation Complexity	Manual labor (cutting, crimping, sleeving)	Requires PCB-style manufacturing and assembly
Repairability	Connectors and wires replaceable	Difficult or often impossible to repair
Cost Considerations	Labour-intensive; cost varies with wire types	Higher tooling/design cost, but saves wiring mass

What is DMA and why is it used in embedded systems?

DMA (Direct Memory Access) enables peripherals to directly read from or write to memory without CPU intervention. This helps to offload routine data transfer tasks from the processor, improving performance and lowering power consumption, which can be critical in resource limited and real time systems.

What’s the difference between a microcontroller and a microprocessor?

A microprocessor is purely a CPU and it requires external memory and I/O, a microcontroller is an all-in -one solution that includes the CPU, memory and peripherals on a single chip, which makes it ideal for embedded systems.

What are the essential components of an Embedded System?

Typically, an embedded system requires a Processor (microcontroller or microprocessor), Memory (RAM, ROM Flash), I/O interfaces such as sensors, GPIO and Communication buses (such as UART, SPI, I2C & CAN). Often, a real time operating system (RTOS) or dedicated firmware are also included.

What is the difference between an SBC and a SoM?

A SoM (System on Module) contains just the core computing module (CPU, memory & Flash) with no external connectors, where as an SBC (Single Board Computer) is essentially a SoM plus it’s carrier board, in a ready to use package, providing all necessary connectors and circuitry.

Is an SBC (Single Board Computer) an Embedded System?

Yes, an SBC is very much an embedded system, although some distinctions are helpful to understand. Generally speaking, an SBC is a complete computer built on a single PCB, containing the CPU, memory (RAM/Flash), storage (microSD or eMMC for example), I/O Ports and power management circuitry. They are often compact, low cost and energy efficient devices, widely used in home automation, robotics, industrial control and edge computing.

Can a single interface board support multiple display models?

Sometimes, but generally not. Some boards are programmable or configurable to support various panels, while many others are custom tuned for a specific display. Always verify compatibility before use.

Does the interface board power the display, backlight and touchscreen?

Most interface boards provide regulated power and backlight control, but you must match the voltage and current requirements of your specific display. Many boards do support touchscreen input (capacitive or resistive) via I²C, USB, or SPI, but you may also need an additional touch controller depending on the panel.

Can I connect HDMI or VGA directly to a raw LCD panel?

Sadly not, raw LCD panels in their component form don’t understand HDMI or VGA signals, so you will need an interface board to convert them into a format the panel can use.

What types of displays can an interface board support?

It depends on the board, but common types include TFT LCDs, OLEDs, and E-Ink displays, using interfaces like LVDS, eDP, MIPI DSI, and RGB.

Can I have my coverglass screen printed?

Yes, you can absolutely screen print on a cover glass, and it's a very common process in custom display manufacturing. Screen printing the coverglass can add borders (black masks around the active area), Brand logos or labels, touch button symbols, alignment marks or just simply decorative elements. When discussing screen prints, depending on application, we would recommend either ceramic or UV inks. The print is typically done on the back side of the glass in order to protect the print.

Can you make holes in a custom coverglass?

Yes, you can make holes in a custom cover glass, and it’s actually common practice in display design, especially when you need to accommodate buttons (e.g., mechanical home buttons or fingerprint sensors), camera or sensor windows, mounting or alignment features or speaker/microphone cutouts. The holes are produced by precision machining (CNC or laser cutting) during the glass fabrication process, and is usually done before chemical strengthening techniques are applied. This process does add cost and complexity, and can weaken the glass if not designed properly, sharp corners should be avoided, and clean edges must be ensured to avoid cracks. If you need holes, it's always best to work with a manufacturer experienced in custom cover glass fabrication.

What is the difference between AG and AR Films?

AG (Anti-Glare) and AR (Anti-Reflective) films both improve screen visibility, but they work quite differently. AG (Anti-Glare) diffuses light to reduce glare from ambient sources, it gives a matte finish and whilst it reduces reflections, it may slightly blur or soften the displayed image. This is generally chosen for bright indoor or office environments. AR (Anti-Reflective) cancels reflections by using optical coatings to minimize light bouncing off the surface, this maintains a clear, crisp display, and makes it more effective against mirror-like reflections. This is generally used for outdoor or high-glare settings where clarity is critical. Some displays actually use both AR & AG in order to combine the benefits.

Can you offer an IK rated coverglass?

An IK rating (Impact Protection rating) is an international standard (IEC 62262) that measures a device's resistance to mechanical impact, such as being struck or dropped. We can support everything from IK0 (no protection) to IK10 (highest protection). In a nutshell, the higher the IK rating, the better protection offered against physical damage from impact.

What interface is used for a CTP?

A Capacitive Touch Panel (CTP) typically uses one of three common interfaces to communicate with the device’s processor. The most popular is I²C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), this is the most popular due to the low pin count and it’s good for short-distance communication on the same board. SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) is also very popular, as it is faster than I²C, and is mostly used when higher data speed is needed. For ease of use, many people request USB, especially for larger touchscreens or external devices.

Which is better, an RTP or a CTP?

The truth is, there is no real answer to this, as each has it’s own place. It depends on your needs, but generally speaking an RTP (Resistive Touch Panel) works with any touch (finger, stylus, gloves), and is a cheaper and simpler technology. The drawbacks are that as a technology is it less sensitive, has lower clarity and does not offer multi-touch. A CTP (Capacitive Touch Panel) is highly sensitive and does support multi-touch. It also offers better clarity and durability. Compared to the RTP though it only works with a conductive touch (bare fingers, some styluses) and is more expensive. As a rule of thumb, a CTPs tend to be preferred for modern devices (smartphones, tablets) because of responsiveness and multi-touch, while RTP technology tends to be used on cost sensitive applications.

Are there different types of white LED backlight?

Yes, there are different types of white LED backlights used in displays, mainly distinguished by how the white light is produced. RGB LEDs can be used and use separate red, green, and blue LEDs combined to create the white light. This method can offer precise color control, but is complex and costly. There are also phosphor-converted (PC) White LEDs, which are basically a blue LED coated with a yellow phosphor layer that converts some blue light to yellow, creating white light. This is the most common and cost-effective solution for backlighting. There are now also quantum dot-enhanced LEDs, which utilise a blue LED with quantum dot films to produce purer and more vibrant white light with better color accuracy. Each type mentioned affects color quality, efficiency, and of course cost of the backlight unit.

How do I drive an LED backlight?

To drive an LED backlight, you need a proper LED driver circuit that supplies the correct voltage and current.

What is FALD?

FALD (Full-Array Local Dimming) is a display backlighting technology used in LED-backlit LCDs. It involves placing a grid of LEDs directly behind the screen (full-array), which can dim or brighten specific zones (local dimming) based on the image shown, this in turn offers deeper blacks, higher contrast and better overall picture quality than edge-lit displays.

What is an LED Backlight?

The backlight of a display, for those displays that require one, is often an overlooked, critical part of the display solution. Summit Display Solutions is able to offer guidance and help with regards to different backlighting technologies such as LED, EL (Electroluminescent) and CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp). It’s true to say that most backlights use LEDs these days, and with that we can support with regards to meeting required luminance, color binning and lifetime.

What is the difference between PMOLED and AMOLED technologies?

PMOLED (Passive Matrix OLED) and AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED) are both types of OLED displays, but they differ in how they control pixels.PMOLED uses a simple grid to control pixels. It's cheaper and easier to produce but is generally limited to smaller screens with a lower resolution. AMOLED uses an active matrix with a transistor at each pixel, allowing faster response, better power efficiency, higher resolution, and is ideal for larger, high-quality displays like smartphones, tablets and TVs.

What is an E-Ink Display?

An E-ink display (electronic ink) is a type of screen that mimics the appearance of ink on paper. It uses tiny microcapsules that move when an electric charge is applied. E-ink displays are highly readable in sunlight, use very little power, and are commonly found in e-readers or on shelf edge labelling. However, they refresh slowly, making them unsuitable for video or fast-moving content.

What is an STN Display?

An STN (Super Twisted Nematic) display is a type of LCD that uses a special arrangement of liquid crystals to improve contrast and viewing angles compared to older TN (Twisted Nematic) displays. STN displays are commonly used in devices like control panels, metering products and handheld instrumentation . They are cost-effective but have slower response times and lower color quality than modern displays like TFT or AMOLED. They are very cost effective and still a popular choice.

Should I choose TFT or AMOLED technology?

AMOLED and TFT are two different types of display technology. AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays have self-lighting pixels, offering better contrast, deeper blacks, and lower power consumption. TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is a type of LCD that uses a backlight, typically less vibrant with slightly lower contrast and wider power usage. In short: AMOLED offers better colors and efficiency whilst TFT, generally, offers a more affordable but lower display quality.

What is the difference between OLED Technology and LCD Technology?

OLED displays are an emissive display technology, each dot/pixel is illuminated on the display, creating a small glowing area of phosphor. Contrast this with LCD, where the entire display area is always illuminated (unless using a reflective LCD). OLEDs can have very low power consumption compared to their equivalent LCD counterparts.

What is contrast ratio?

The contrast ratio of a display is the ratio between the maximum black and the maximum white that a display is capable of producing. The higher the contrast ratio, the crisper and sharper the image will appear.

What is a display viewing angle?

The view angle is the point from which the display is best viewed from, and an image may seem to have poor contrast or be blurry if the display is viewed outside the optimal viewing angle. Traditionally this affects LCD technology displays, so a 6:00 or 12:00 viewing angle is usually requested. OLED and IPS TFT technology have good all round viewing angles, but the specification should always be checked.

What character displays can Summit offer?

Summit has a range of traditional LCD alphanumeric character modules as standard, ranign from 8x2 up to 40x4 characters, we’re now also able to offer PMOLED (Passive Matrix OLED) character modules in formats of 8x2 up to 40x2 - in most cases we have a PMOLED display with the same physical footprint as a traditional LCD, allowing for a quick and easy “upgrade” in appearance of your product.

How can I connect my display to my main board?

Summit has a range of standard interface boards, but can also work closely with the customer to help develop a bespoke solution if required. We can also provide a host of connectors and cable assemblies to ensure a good reliable connection.

How can I connect my display to my main board?

I can’t find a standard product that is suitable for my design, can Summit help

Summit offers a wide range of display technologies, including LCD, OLED, TFT and E-Ink. Our team can help select the right technology based upon your specific requirements.

How can Summit help me select a display?

Summit offers a wide range of display technologies, including LCD, OLED, TFT and E-Ink. Our team can help select the right technology based upon your specific requirements.

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