Content last revised on October 23, 2025.
LM64C351: Engineering Analysis of a High-Clarity 10.4-inch FSTN Monochrome Display
Product Overview
Delivering Exceptional Readability for Demanding Industrial and Medical HMIs
The Sharp LM64C351 is a 10.4-inch FSTN (Film-compensated Super-Twisted Nematic) monochrome LCD module engineered for applications where data clarity and long-term reliability are paramount. Its core value lies in providing high-contrast, artifact-free text and graphics crucial for industrial control systems, medical monitoring, and test instrumentation. With key specifications of 640 x 480 VGA | 18:1 Contrast Ratio | CCFL Backlight, this display ensures exceptional readability under diverse indoor lighting conditions. This design prioritizes stable, consistent performance, directly addressing the need for robust HMI components in systems with extended operational lifecycles. For legacy system upgrades or new designs requiring a proven, high-contrast monochrome interface, the LM64C351 offers a definitive solution.
Application Scenarios & Value
System-Level Benefits in High-Clarity Human-Machine Interfaces
The LM64C351 is a purpose-built solution for environments where operators require immediate, unambiguous visual information. Its high contrast ratio and monochrome FSTN technology make it an ideal fit for legacy and new designs in process control, factory automation, and medical diagnostics.
Consider the challenge of upgrading the operator panel on a legacy CNC machine. The primary engineering constraints are often maintaining the existing mechanical cutout, ensuring electrical compatibility with the host controller's 8-bit parallel interface, and, most critically, guaranteeing the operator can clearly read critical machine status and G-code, even from an off-angle or in variable shop floor lighting. The LM64C351 directly solves this problem. Its standard 10.4-inch form factor simplifies mechanical integration, while its VGA resolution and high-contrast display provide a significant upgrade in text and graphical sharpness over older display technologies, reducing operator error and improving workflow efficiency. The stable, long-life CCFL backlight system provides a known performance baseline, which is critical for calculating total cost of ownership in industrial applications.
While the LM64C351 excels in monochrome applications, for systems that require color representation with similar industrial robustness, the LQ104V1LG61 offers a color TFT-LCD alternative in a comparable form factor.
Key Parameter Overview
Decoding the Specifications for Visual Performance and Integration
The technical specifications of the LM64C351 are optimized for clear, reliable visual output in demanding operational environments. The following parameters are central to its performance profile and are highlighted for engineering evaluation.
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| Sharp LM64C351 Key Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Parameter | Value |
| Display Technology | FSTN (Film-compensated Super-Twisted Nematic), Monochrome (Blue Mode) |
| Screen Size (Diagonal) | 10.4 inches (26 cm) |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 (VGA) |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.33 x 0.33 mm |
| Active Area | 211.1 x 158.3 mm |
| Contrast Ratio (Typical) | 18:1 |
| Response Time (Typical) | 200/150 ms (Tr/Td) |
| Backlight System | 1 x CCFL with Inverter |
| Interface | 8-bit Parallel Data |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0°C to +50°C |
| Storage Temperature Range | -25°C to +60°C |
| Outline Dimensions | 260.0 x 183.0 x 12.0 mm |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Engineering Inquiries for the LM64C351
What is the primary benefit of the FSTN monochrome technology in the LM64C351?
The primary benefit is its inherently high contrast and wide viewing cone for text and line graphics. Unlike color displays that use sub-pixels, a monochrome display dedicates the entire pixel to "on" or "off" states, resulting in exceptionally sharp, clear characters that are less fatiguing for operators to read over long shifts.
How does the 18:1 contrast ratio impact usability in an industrial HMI?
A contrast ratio of 18:1 provides a distinct separation between the background and foreground pixels. Think of it as the difference between reading faded gray text on a light gray background versus crisp black text on a white page. This high level of differentiation is critical in factory or lab settings where ambient lighting can vary, ensuring that warnings, measurements, and system status are always legible and never misinterpreted.
Technical Deep Dive
Understanding the Engineering Value of FSTN Blue Mode
The Film-compensated Super-Twisted Nematic (FSTN) technology employed in the LM64C351 is a deliberate engineering choice for data-centric applications. By adding a retardation film to the STN cell, FSTN technology effectively neutralizes the color shift that can occur with standard STN displays, producing a true black-and-white (or in this case, a stable blue-mode) image. This is not simply a cost-saving measure; it's an optimization for clarity.
The "Blue Mode" display provides a high-contrast viewing experience that is particularly effective for alphanumeric data and vector graphics. The value of this approach can be compared to an architectural blueprint. While a full-color photograph of a building is useful, the high-contrast white lines on a blue background of a blueprint provide the clearest, most unambiguous information for the specific task of construction. Similarly, for a machine operator who needs to see set-points, alarm codes, or diagnostic information without the distraction of color, the LM64C351’s display mode offers superior functional clarity and reduces cognitive load, a key consideration for effective HMI design.
For engineering inquiries or to discuss sourcing options for your project, please contact our technical sales team for further assistance with the LM64C351 display module.
