Overview of 2011

ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY offers a data logger for monitoring and recording ambient temperature. The EA SYLOG-USB-1 is especially well suited to applications in the pharmaceutical, food, transportation, and logistics industries. It can also be used as a general logger in laboratory environments. The device can be quickly connected to a computer via the integrated USB interface to evaluate recorded data and ships with drivers for all Windows versions.

The EA SYLOG-USB-1 measures temperature and can save up to 16,382 readings. Users can set the time lapse between measurements from 10 seconds to 12 hours to customize the monitoring period, which can span as little as 5 hours or as much as 1 year. The time at which measurements are to be taken is also programmable.

The software provided graphically depicts the measurements on the computer screen and formats the graphics for printing. Data can also be converted and exported in different standard formats to be processed further.

An array of multi-colored light diodes (LEDs) displays the current operating status of the device and indicates whether the preset minimum and maximum temperatures were exceeded or undershot – an important feature when it comes to controlling the cold chain in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The data logger can be used in a temperature range of -35°C to +80°C (-31°F to +176°F) and is powered by a replaceable long-life lithium battery that typically lasts one year. A plastic cover offering IP 67 protection shields the device from moisture and dust at all times.

The T120-5 line of graphic displays from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY is characterized by its versatility. Three variants are available that cater to a wide variety of applications – from ultra-low energy consumption through to radiant clarity in blue-and-white design. The 120 x 32-pixel module is therefore the ideal display unit for battery-powered and mobile devices as well as for use in industrial environments and consumer electronics. An optional touch panel allows the graphic display to function as the control center of its companion device.

The three variants of the T120-5 differ in their background illumination. The EA T120L-53 is a reflective, non-illuminated display that offers perfect readability, even in direct sunlight, while consuming very little energy for optimal performance in mobile, battery-powered devices.

The EA T120A-54LED comes with yellow-green LED background illumination and its positive, transflective display in STN technology is very easy to read under all lighting conditions, including total darkness and direct sunlight. With a service life of 100,000 hours, it can also be operated continuously.

The EA T120B-54LW, a negative-transmissive display with bright white LED background illumination, shows information in a radiant blue-and-white color scheme.

All display modules in the T120-5 family are equipped with two graphics controllers of type AX6120 (or compatible), whereby one controller is responsible for the right and the other for the left side of the display. A built-in reset facility ensures excellent power-on behavior for all variants, and a power-save mode reduces consumption during periods of inactivity. An operating temperature range of -20 to +70 °C also makes the displays compatible with outdoor and demanding industrial applications.

Users can choose from many options, such as a glare-free touch panel with a resolution of 5 x 2 fixed fields and a high-level graphics controller, which can be connected directly to a host via a serial RS232 interface.

Starter packs for graphics display designers are available from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY, a company, which specializes in industrial displays. The packs contain an extensive development toolkit for users of displays supplied by this manufacturer, providing a user-friendly path to production-ready products.

Besides the display, which may be selected by the user, the packs contain everything required for development and test. Other than the starter pack, the only thing needed for complete the development of the display including the software is a PC.

The main item in the starter pack is the evaluation board, which holds the display and contains the peripheral circuitry. A number of pushbuttons, LEDs and potentiometers are mounted on the board to connect the inputs and outputs and simulate input signals. An USB cable is also included to connect the board to the PC. Besides providing data connectivity, the cable also supplies power to the board. No separate power supply is needed. A number of LEDs are mounted on the evaluation board to display and monitor data traffic and voltage levels.

The evaluation boards are tailored to the specific display. The displays are supplied as well along with a touch pad for finger-tip control. A buzzer is included on the evaluation boards so that the user can monitor touch pad functions during the development phase.

Another major item in the toolkit is the DVD which contains Windows drivers, a source text editor, a compiler and various sample programs. A number of useful PC tools to support development of the display application are also on the DVD:

• EA LCD Terminal organizes the transfer of data and commands between the PC and the evaluation board.  
• EA BitmapEdit provides simple image editing functions and supports animation development for the attached display. The range of functionality is tailored to Electronic Assembly’s eDIP display series.
• The EA Instrument Editor gives developers a handy way of creating dial instruments that are shown on the display.

Five additional adapter boards for very simple interface implementation are also included. The user can choose between RS-232 (two different versions), I2C, SPI and RS485.

The article numbers for ordering the evaluation kits including monochrome and color displays in various sizes are EA EVALeDIP128-6, EA EVALeDIP160-7 and EA EVALeDIPTFT32. The link to the relating data sheet is here.

The EA DOGXL160-7 graphic display from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY enhances the company's chip-on-glass product line by adding a further display unit with 160 x 104 pixel resolution. This makes it possible to accommodate up to 13 lines of 26 characters each in normal type and 6 lines of 20 characters each in large type. Each pixel is controlled separately. The EA DOGXL160-7 also provides developers with a large range of variants and combination options with respect to color and control.

Five combinations of display and background color are available as is STN and FSTN technology with high contrast. The display units can also be combined with seven different lighting schemes (white, yellow/green, blue, red, amber and green), with one model even supporting the entire color spectrum as a RGB backlight. This leads to a wide variety of variations that blend seamlessly with almost all conceivable designs.

The displays feature an integrated graphics controller of type UC1610 in addition to the accompanying graphics RAM. Developers can choose from four serial interfaces to connect to the outside world – a 4-wire, 8-bit SPI, a 3-wire, 8-bit SPI, a 3-wire, 9-bit SPI, and a 2-wire I2C. In 2-wire I2C mode, one of two base addresses can be set so that two displays can be operated using a single I2C bus.

The new displays are just as easy to handle from a wiring and installation perspective as other members of the EA DOG family and require a single power supply of 2.6 to 3.3 volts, whereby a load of only 700 microamperes is placed on the network. A separate power source is needed for LED background illumination and can supply anywhere from 10 to 150 milliamperes, depending on the variant. No mechanical assembly is required to connect to the circuit board. Simply insert, solder, and you're finished!

Despite all of this, EA DOGXL160-7 family displays are very compact (78 x 64 millimeters of space is sufficient) and are no taller than 6.5 millimeters, even with LED background illumination. An operating temperature range of -20 to +70 °C also makes the displays compatible with many applications in the industrial and medical sectors.

A complete line of accessories is available to developers and includes an USB test board for connecting to Windows PCs, a touch panel with analog 4-wire interface, and character sets with font editor. Additional fonts with Cyrillic, Greek, or Arabic character sets, for example, can be derived from Windows fonts.
 

Industrial display specialist ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY introduces a new extremely compact, yet versatile display unit with the EA DIPS082-HN (data sheet). Measuring only 40 x 20 mm, the dot matrix module can display up to eight numbers, letters, or symbols per line. A single-line version is also available as is one with LED background illumination.

LCD supertwist display technology guarantees high contrast. The base version displays information in dark blue against a neutral background. When ordered with the optional LED background illumination, this information appears in black against a yellow/green background. The integrated display controller is HD-44780 compatible. 192 characters (ASCII, Japanese, and Greek characters) are already supported by the ROM and users can define up to eight additional characters if they so choose.

The display can be operated using a single +5-volt power supply as well as a +/- 2.7-volt or +/- 3.3-volt supply. Connection occurs via a 4 or 8-bit data bus with RS, R/W, and E control lines. Power consumption is 2mA; the version with LED background illumination typically requires 50mA. Assembly is not required, since the display units can be easily soldered directly to the circuit board. Their operating temperature range of -20 °C to +70 °C allows the units to be used in many industrial applications.

A new product line – the DOGS102 (data sheet) – enhances ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY´s DOG series of versatile full-graphic displays with particularly low energy consumption. Their small size (39x42mm) is compatible with any flush-mounting box and makes them ideal for building installation applications. They are also perfect for 19" racks and can be easily integrated in the front panels of devices measuring 1 U in height.

The displays have a resolution of 102x64 pixels. LCD supertwist technology ensures good contrast. Several variants are offered and differ in their LED background illumination, which includes white, amber, and green/red. A variant with a white, non-illuminated background is also available. The LED elements have a service life of up to 100,000 hours of operation.

A 2.5 to 3.3-volt power supply is all that is required to operate the displays. This, combined with their exceptionally low power consumption of 250µA (typ.), predestine the displays for use in battery-powered devices.

An UC1701 graphics controller is already integrated in addition to the screen memory. The units communicate via a 4-wire SPI interface. Eight lines of 17 characters in normal type or four lines of 12 characters in large type can be displayed. Optional character sets can be ordered and created using standard Windows system fonts (Cyrillic, Greek, and Arabic character sets are also supported). A USB test board for Windows PCs, an analog touch panel, and a fitting ZIF (zero insertion force) connector are likewise available.

The contrast is controlled by software and is typically set once only. The display then maintains this setting across the entire operating temperature range of -20 to +70°C by way of an integrated temperature compensation facility. Elaborate mechanical assembly is not required, since the displays are easily soldered directly to the circuit board.

The EA DIP180B-5NLWTP display module from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY was designed for use in industrial controllers. When equipped with an analog-resistive touch panel, applications involving user guidance and the display of information can be combined in a single unit.

The EA DIP180B-5NLWTP (link to the data sheet) is a full-graphic display with a resolution of 180 x 32 pixels; alphanumeric characters are displayed as graphics. Three integrated controllers of type PT6520 (or compatible) are used to control the left, center, and right sections of the display. A white LED background ensures crystal-clear display of information and exceptional readability under all lighting conditions.

The touch panel is linked to an external touch pad controller, or a controller with analog inputs. The panel operates similarly to that of a potentiometer. When a specific voltage is applied to the "Top-Bottom" input of the controller, a voltage proportionate to the Y-position of the point of contact is set at the "Left-Right" signal pins. The position of the point of contact in the X-axis is determined in the same way and a voltage is applied to the "Left-Right" pins. The output voltage that is then set at the "Top-Bottom" pins indicates the horizontal position of the point of contact.

The module provides a high level of contrast and fast response times thanks to the use of an LCD supertwist display. Even at extremely low operating temperatures of
-20 degrees Celsius, the display has a sufficient response time of approximately 2.5 seconds.

The modules feature an automatic temperature compensation facility, which eliminates the need to adjust the contrast during operation. The display is certified for operation between -20 and +70 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for many industrial applications. The module can be soldered directly to the printed circuit board to avoid complex assembly with mechanical components.

Full-Graphic Displays for Difficult Lighting Conditions

ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY has developed the EA DIP122-5 line of displays with LED background illumination for extreme lighting conditions. The line covers indoor and outdoor applications as well as use in direct sunlight.

The EA DIP122-5 is available in three colors: amber, green/yellow, and blue/white. The yellow/green (EA DIP122-5HNLED) and amber (EA DIP122J-5NLA) variants are particularly well suited to the outdoors and extreme lighting conditions such as direct sunlight, while efficient LED background illumination facilitates operation in lower-light settings.

The contrast-optimized blue/white variant is ideal for indoor applications, with or without artificial light, and when low energy consumption is vital.

All three variants are equipped with an automatic temperature compensation device for an enhanced temperature range of -20 to +70 °C. This eliminates the need to adjust the contrast during operation. These variants (EA DIP122-5HNLED, EA DIP122B-5NLW, and EA DIP122J-5NLA) also feature superfast liquid technology to ensure a sufficient response time (2 seconds on average) when exposed to extremely low temperatures.

The EA DIP122-5 line of full-graphic displays offers a resolution of 122 x 32 pixels. Two built-in controllers (type PT6250 or compatible) regulate the display, whereby each controller is assigned to 61 columns. All displays use an 8-bit processor interface for external communication and require a contrast voltage of +5 V and -4 V. An external series resistor or constant current source is all that is needed for the LED background illumination.

The displays are easily soldered to the printed circuit board (no socket required), or socket connectors can be used. Additional modules with the same casing and pinout but a different dot matrix (1 x 8, 2 x 16, and 4 x 20) are also available.

Display specialist ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY in Gilching is introducing an exceptionally versatile line of alphanumeric displays for use in industrial and commercial applications. The high-contrast, easy-to-read LCD super-twist display modules of the EA DOG family require a mere 3.3 or 5 V to operate. Negative auxiliary voltage is also not required for the 3.3 V systems – a world first. This allows developers to keep their power supply simple and economical.

Another clever idea is that the display and illumination units can be ordered separately. This makes it possible to implement numerous designs with different sizes and colors. Customers can choose from three display units and six LED background illumination schemes, including one that covers the entire RGB color spectrum. Three display units are offered for viewing one, two, or three rows of data, with different font sizes available as well. The variety of display types, font sizes, and background illumination schemes translates into a total of 63 customization options. Two separate LED paths are available for the unicolor illumination schemes and can be connected in series or parallel. The illumination unit can therefore be operated using a 3.3 V or a 5 V power supply.

Keeping the illumination and display concept separate also enables extremely flat layouts. Without the illumination unit, the display is only 2.0 mm thick, and even when the latter is fitted, the 5.8 mm build height provides for a very flat configuration, whereby the display can be mounted frameless by having it soldered directly to the circuit board. At just 55 x 31 mm, the display thus facilitates extremely compact solutions.

An ST 7036 display controller is included in the display units despite their small size. Four-bit, eight-bit, and SPI interfaces are offered to connect to the outside world. The operating range for the displays is between -20 °C and + 70 °C, making them compatible with industrial applications, and all variants can be ordered in quantities of one or more.

Based on organic materials, OLED displays have become an integral part of mobiles and smartphones, thanks to their superb brightness. Now, Electronic Assembly, a manufacturer of displays, has introduced the technology to industrial applications.

With an extremely high contrast ratio of 2000:1, the nine OLED models from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY are real eye-catchers. The high contrast ratio is achieved by using a genuinely black background and active display technology. A new, patented system eliminates the relatively short service life of previous OLED displays. OLED displays from ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY can be operated 100,000 hours and more at room temperature. Even when used at maximum operating temperature (80°C), they retain 50 percent or their original brightness after 14,000 hours.

The OLED displays also provide full contrast at temperatures down to -40°C. No contrast adjustment is required for this. Their response time of 10 microseconds gives the displays an extremely fast response time as well, whether they are used at high or low temperatures. In addition, information shown on the OLED displays is easy to read, no matter what the viewing angle.

All major character sets – English, European, Japanese, and Cyrillic – are integrated in the alphanumeric displays and do not need to be created by the controller. Connection to the outside world is similar to the established HD44780 standard via 4 and 8-bit interfaces. Power is provided by a 3 or 5-volt single supply, whereby the brightest brightness is achieved with the 5-volt supply. Consumption ranges between 15 and 50 milliamperes, depending on the size of the display.

Electronic Assembly offers nine different organic displays. Colors include yellow or white, and the display area encompasses 2 rows with up to 8 characters each or 4 rows with up to 20 characters each, depending on the model.

ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY has integrated a graphic controller into its eDIP128-6 family of displays. This is the first time that the company has offered a monochrome 128 x 64 pixel display with a built-in graphic controller. For cost reasons, it had not been possible to do so in the past. The display is also available with a touch panel, making it the ideal solution for machine control applications in a wide range of industries.

The built-in graphic controller makes it much easier for developers to design sophisticated control panels into their equipment, machines and systems. The displays come with eight character sets (fonts) built in. Graphic commands which provide the same ease of use as high-level languages are available to program functions and position characters and bitmap images with single-pixel accuracy. No need for additional software or drivers. No time-consuming and error-prone machine level programming. The eDIP128-6 drastically reduces time to market.

More than 256 macros can be stored in the onboard EEPROM. Developers can pre-define display content as complete images which can be stored in the non-volatile memory for immediate use.

The touch panel can be used to create a user interface. The developer can define touch-activated controls on the display. The position and function of the controls can vary depending on the context. The labels on the controls can easily be set to the local language.

The developer has a choice of three serial interface options – RS-232, SPI or I2C. The 71.4 x 54.4mm display has an operating temperature range of -20°C – +70°C, making it suitable for industrial applications. White LED lighting ensures excellent contrast and readability even in very bright lighting conditions.

The eDIP128-6 displays can be supplied either for positive display or negative display with blue background. Both versions are available with an optional resistive touch panel.

ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY has developed a new TFT graphic display whose numerous functions cover a wide variety of potential applications. Built-in intelligence also helps drastically cut development time.

The EA eDIPTFT32-A offers an abundance of clever graphics functions that can be directly accessed by the development engineer without having to program at the pixel level. Eight predefined fonts are included and can be accurately positioned (down to the pixel) and adapted to meet individual needs. Up to 256 fonts can be stored in the integrated flash memory. All fonts can be scaled as required and rotated in 90-degree increments. The 4 MB memory can also store other types of data, such as images, animations, and macros.

Many geometric functions are likewise integrated for displaying bar graphs, frames, and switches, for example. Analog rotary and pointer instruments can be easily visualized using a free application called “LCD Tools”. The display unit features two analog inputs for this purpose.

The optional variant with touch panel makes it possible to operate the display using graphic controls that change dynamically. Up to 40 buttons, switches, or bar graphs can be defined and changed by software, depending on the situation.

Measuring 3.2 inches in the diagonal, the display supports 65,536 colors and has a resolution of 320 x 240. Images and texts can be mixed as desired. Macro pages let the developer realize a multilingual display. The energy-efficient LED background illumination is set via software. To give the developer the greatest level of freedom, the display units provide three different interfaces – RS 232, I2C bus, and SPI bus. The display can be used in an enhanced temperature range of -20 °C to +70 °C.

Its larger counterpart, a 4.3-inch TFT display in 16:9 format, offers the same functions.