5 Keys Benefits of Optical Bonding Display

What makes a screen is readable outdoor? It turns out the display brightness is not the only one that matters when it comes to sunlight readability. Learn more about how optical bonding improves your display and its other benefits.

The most common interactive displays build with a screen glass attached to LCD cells by the edges, leaving an air gap between the LCD cells and the screen glass. The gap results in various disadvantages from fragile screen glass, less accurate touch, narrower viewing angles, etc.

Optical bonding refers to a gluing process to fill the air gap between the touchscreen glass to the LCD cell. Many benefits come with optical bonding. Here are the top 5 benefits:

• Enhance Sunlight Readability

  The problem for display readability in outdoor environments is not always the brightness but the contrast ratio. That means the difference of light intensity between the brightest white pixel and the darkest black pixel.

  In non-optical bonding, due to the different refractive index between the materials with the air, light from the external source that passes through the panel and air gap is mainly reflected, causing a mirroring effect on the screen. The same also goes the other way – light generated by the backlight of the LCD module casts back internally, causes reduces contrast and luminance. The adhesive used in optical bonding has a similar refractive index to the glass, thus able to reduces the refraction effect and increases the display’s contrast ratio.

  

• Better Touch Experience

  For touch monitors, the thicker the panel, the less accuracy, and usability it becomes. Moreover, the gap between the screen and display causes parallax. That is, the light refraction angle makes the pen or finger's physical location on the glass appear to be different from the corresponding point on the LCD, depending on your line of sight. Since optical bonding removes the air gap, it eliminates parallax and gives the user a better accuracy, natural, and reliable touch experience.

• Increased Ruggedness and Safety

  The hardened adhesive between the glass and LCD also acts as a shock absorber and increases the display's stability and resistance to mechanical effects such as pressure, impact, or vibration. In the unlikely event that the glass is damaged, shards of broken glass will remain stuck to the optical adhesive, making it an essential benefit for safety reasons in harsh work fields like public places, defence, or factories applications. A bonded display is also better able to resist scratches, fluids, stains, and dirt.

  

• Reduce Display Weight

  Another advantage of optical bonding is the cover glass can be made thinner without compromising its durability, as a layer of hardened adhesive supports it. Not only it provides a better touch experience, this significantly decreases the total display weight, resulting in a much lighter display that is easier to handle and transport.

• Maximum Dust and Moisture Protection

  The elimination of the air gap added protection against dust and moisture penetration between the glass display. It is crucial in humid environments like storage, or outdoor areas, where the high humidity can cause screen fogging on a non-optically bonded screen over time. Thus, ensuring the displays remain in an optimal state longer.

The advantages described above make the optical bonding screen suitable in almost every application, especially in the demanding operating environment. Such as working under direct sunlight and in rigorous environments, especially in medical, defence, marine, transportation, oil and gas projects, etc.

Learn more: Optical Bonding - Winmate Core Technologies