{"id":4353,"date":"2018-10-03T20:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T18:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/msalamon.pl\/?p=4353"},"modified":"2025-12-27T20:34:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T19:34:21","slug":"never-do-this-to-your-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/msalamon.pl\/en\/never-do-this-to-your-display\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Do This to Your Display!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The high popularity and low price of displays mean they are in almost every modern device, including DIY. Choosing a display for a specific application is a very important matter. Some are more or less power-hungry. Others are brighter or dimmer, which determines the possibility of using them in full sunlight. We also have different shapes. Squares, rectangles, or even<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

round ones. Unfortunately, young makers often forget about the aesthetics of the finished device. Having worked for almost two years in the display industry, I felt the need to explain an issue that really bothers me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what am I talking about?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s about designing the enclosure for the display. In the age of ubiquitous 3D printing, we have the ability to print a reasonably aesthetic enclosure. Unfortunately, the design of these enclosures often isn\u2019t exactly at a decent aesthetic level. I\u2019d even say that, in many projects, the aesthetics are a total miss. Please take a look at the photos below.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you notice the common feature? Yes, the metal frame exposed on the outside of the device. That frame is there to clamp the LCD glass with the conductive rubber and is not meant to be exposed externally. Have you ever seen a smartphone with a visible metal display frame? Does the display in your washing machine stick out above the panel? Do you have a monitor on your desk without a housing? No. So why are you designing your enclosures this way?! Look at examples of mass-produced devices that use the same type of displays.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does look better, right? Let me explain how to achieve this in a very simple way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Display areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, the theory. To correctly design the window for a display, we need to know the dimensions and location of several parts of the display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. Outline Dimension <\/strong>(OD<\/strong>) \u2013 the external dimensions of the display. How much space the display occupies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. \n
          \n
        1. Visual Area <\/strong>(VA<\/strong>) \u2013 the visible area of the display. This is the field you can uncover, and it won\u2019t be embarrassing. Most often, it\u2019s a uniform-colored glass area.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. \n
              \n
            1. Active Area <\/strong>(AA<\/strong>) \u2013 the active area of the display. This is where the pixels we control are located \u2014 hence \u201cactive\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. \n
                  \n
                1. Mounting depth<\/strong> \u2013 if the display module has a PCB with holes, the mounting will be based on that PCB.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  1. Mounting hole spacing <\/strong>\u2013 to determine where to place the screw holes. The holes won\u2019t always be at the display.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    The drawing should clarify these concepts. This is the most classic 16\u00d72 alphanumeric LCD. I marked in red the dimensions we care about.<\/p>\n\n\n

                    \n
                    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    But where should the designed window be? The opening in the enclosure should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n