Our open frame and chassis monitors provide robust and well integrated subassemblies for use where high performance display systems are required. They are suited to various applications such as kiosks, arcade games, banking terminals, flight simulators, industrial equipment, vending machines, instrumentation and others. Chassis monitors are fitted with an integral front bezel but otherwise of similar construction to their open frame counterparts.

Products meeting the IP65 standard (Ingress Protection sealing: 6 = sealed against dust & 5 = protected against low pressure water jets from any direction) and CE approved versions are available too.

A range of standard products has been developed to cater for the most popular display resolutions and physical sizes. Moreover, in line with recent trends, an increasing number of wide screen types are now becoming available. In addition, for high volume projects, customised solutions can also be provided.

There are several signal input options from which to choose (see below).

S-video - Super-video: a video colour format that combines the three video signals (YUV) into two channels. S-video provides a sharper image than composite video.

VGA - Video Graphics Array: a standard originally developed by IBM, indicating a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, a colour palette of 16-bits with 256,000 colours and an aspect ratio of 4:3. However, although the term VGA is still used to characterise any Personal Computer style graphical interface, these days the displays being driven often have far higher performance.

DVI - Digital Visual Interface: a standard interface for connection to a digital display system that typically supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection.

Optional touch panels are also available and the choice includes 4 or 5-wire analogue resistive (with USB or RS232 interface), capacitive, surface acoustic wave and infrared. Further information on these technologies can be found in our Touch Solutions area.

4:3 (1.33:1) is one of the most common videographic aspect ratios - this being the universal format for standard definition video - although it is now declining in popularity. It was also widely adopted in the PC industry and numerous software applications were designed to be viewed on a 4:3 display. However, in recent times, alternative formats have evolved; 5:4 (1.25:1) for example.

These products are ideal for harsh, high-humidity environments such as those often found in chemical processing plants, food production facilities and hospitals etc. Their enclosures are completely sealed to IP65 (NEMA4) grade, constructed of brushed stainless steel (EN:1.4301/ AISI:304/ JIS: SUS304) to provide good corrosion resistance and fitted with IP65 compliant connectors too.

Optional touch panels are also available but in the case of SAW types the product can be sealed only to IP54 (Ingress Protection sealing: 5 = protected against dust - limited ingress but no harmful deposits & 4 = protected against sprays from all directions - limited ingress permitted).

In Europe 16:9 is being adopted as the standard broadcast format for digital and high definition TV. The increasing popularity of HDTV broadcasts has solidified 16:9 (1.77:1) as perhaps the most important video aspect ratio going forward. Therefore, if your application mostly requires the display of moving images then a wide screen product is likely to be preferred. However, it should be noted that there are other wide screen formats too and so not all products in this category will be 16:9 exactly.