Content last revised on November 13, 2025
NEC NL2432HC22-50B | High-Reliability 3.5” QVGA Transflective TFT-LCD
The NEC NL2432HC22-50B is a 3.5-inch QVGA resolution TFT-LCD engineered for applications demanding uncompromising readability in variable lighting conditions and robust performance over extended operational lifetimes. This display integrates a transflective optical layer with a durable, low-power design, making it an ideal solution for specialized handheld and embedded devices where performance cannot be sacrificed for power efficiency. It is particularly suited for legacy system support and new designs requiring proven reliability.
Engineered for Performance and Longevity
At the core of the NL2432HC22-50B's value proposition is its combination of targeted features designed for industrial and professional environments. This display delivers more than just an image; it provides a reliable human-machine interface (HMI) component built for challenging real-world use.
- Superior Readability: Its transflective nature ensures clear image visibility in both high ambient light, such as direct sunlight, and low-light indoor conditions, reducing the reliance on a power-intensive backlight.
- Industrial-Grade Durability: With an operating temperature range of -20 to 70°C, this display is built to withstand harsh environmental conditions often found in field service, mobile diagnostics, and factory automation.
- Low-Power Architecture: The display operates on a typical voltage of 3.0V and utilizes an efficient WLED backlight system, contributing to longer battery life in portable devices.
- Integrated Touch Solution: It comes equipped with a built-in 4-wire resistive touch panel, providing a complete, ready-to-integrate HMI solution that simplifies the supply chain and final assembly.
Technical Deep-Dive: Transflective Technology and Interface
The Advantage of Transflective Readability
The NL2432HC22-50B utilizes transflective technology, a critical feature for devices used outdoors or in environments with fluctuating light. Unlike purely transmissive displays that wash out in bright light or purely reflective displays that are unreadable in the dark, a transflective screen combines both modes. Under bright light, it reflects ambient light to illuminate the pixels, making the screen exceptionally clear while consuming minimal power. In darker settings, the white LED (WLED) backlight, with a lifespan of 33,000 hours, provides the necessary illumination. This dual-mode capability is essential for applications like portable GPS units and outdoor test equipment, where consistent readability is a matter of operational safety and efficiency. For a deeper understanding of displays designed for outdoor use, explore our engineer's guide to sunlight-readable HMIs.
Simplified Integration with Parallel RGB + SPI Interface
The display employs a 45-pin FPC that supports a Parallel RGB (1-channel, 6-bit) data interface combined with an SPI channel. This hybrid interface is a strategic choice for its target applications. The parallel RGB interface allows for high-speed video data transfer suitable for its 60Hz frame rate, ensuring fluid motion on screen. The additional SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) channel provides a low-pin-count method for configuring device parameters and initializing the display controller, simplifying the connection to a wide range of microcontrollers. This design avoids the complexity and power overhead of higher-speed interfaces like LVDS, which are unnecessary for a QVGA display, thereby reducing BOM cost and engineering effort.
Key Technical Specifications
The following table outlines the crucial performance metrics for the NEC NL2432HC22-50B, providing at-a-glance data for system engineers and designers. For comprehensive electrical and mechanical details, you can reference the official datasheet. A datasheet for a similar model, the NL2432HC22-50A, is available for download here.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | NEC |
| Model | NL2432HC22-50B |
| Screen Size | 3.5 inches |
| Resolution | 240(RGB) x 320 (QVGA) |
| Panel Technology | a-Si TFT-LCD, TN, Transflective |
| Brightness | 200 cd/m² (Typ.) |
| Contrast Ratio | 150:1 (Transmissive) / 15:1 (Reflective) |
| Viewing Angle (L/R/U/D) | 35/35/35/35 (Typ.) |
| Interface | Parallel RGB (1 ch, 6-bit) + SPI |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 70°C |
| Outline Dimensions | 63.5 x 84.2 x 4.5 mm |
| Touch Panel | 4-wire Resistive Touch |
Application Suitability
The specific feature set of the NL2432HC22-50B makes it a prime candidate for specialized equipment where reliability and performance in varied environments are non-negotiable. Its robust design is particularly valuable in maintaining or upgrading systems that require proven, long-lasting components. For engineers working on new designs within these domains, this display offers a dependable foundation. It is one of many high-quality industrial LCD displays we offer to meet exacting project requirements. For applications requiring a different brightness profile but a similar form factor, the NL2432HC22-25B presents a viable alternative to consider during the design phase.
