NEC NL3224AC35-13 | High-Reliability 5.5" QVGA Industrial Display
The NEC NL3224AC35-13 is a 5.5-inch amorphous silicon TFT-LCD module engineered for long-term performance in demanding industrial environments. This display is not just a component; it's a solution designed to deliver exceptional visual clarity, operational robustness, and a low total cost of ownership. It stands as a testament to NEC's legacy of building industrial-grade components that engineers can trust for critical applications.
Key Performance Highlights
The NL3224AC35-13 is purpose-built to solve common challenges in Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design. Its value is rooted in a combination of specialized technology and practical engineering features:
- Superior Readability: Features NEC's proprietary Super-Reflective Natural Light TFT (SR-NLT) technology, which enhances viewability in high ambient light conditions.
- Exceptional Viewing Angles: Delivers ultra-wide viewing angles (80° left/right, 80° up / 60° down), minimizing color shift and ensuring data integrity from off-axis positions.
- Industrial-Grade Durability: Operates reliably across a wide temperature range of -10°C to +70°C, making it suitable for factory floors, control rooms, and unheated environments.
- Designed for Longevity: Incorporates a long-life white LED backlight with a user-replaceable design, significantly extending the service life of the end product and simplifying maintenance.
Technical Deep Dive: Engineering for Clarity and Longevity
SR-NLT Technology: Mastering Ambient Light
A common failure point for standard displays is "washout" under bright factory or field lighting. The NL3224AC35-13 directly confronts this with its SR-NLT technology. This innovative approach uses a transflective layer that harnesses ambient light to supplement the backlight, effectively boosting image contrast and saturation without consuming extra power. For an engineer, this means a clearer, more legible interface for the operator, reduced eye strain, and lower system power consumption—a critical advantage in battery-powered or thermally constrained devices.
Wide Viewing Angles and Replaceable Backlight: A Dual Advantage
In many industrial settings, an HMI must be readable by multiple operators from various positions. The panel's exceptional viewing angles ensure that critical data, color-coded warnings, and status indicators are perceived accurately, regardless of the viewer's position. This is a fundamental safety and operational efficiency feature. Furthermore, the foresight to include a replaceable backlight addresses a key aspect of industrial lifecycle management. Instead of replacing an entire piece of equipment due to a faded screen, maintenance teams can quickly swap the backlight, drastically reducing downtime and long-term costs. This is a crucial feature that sets it apart from typical consumer-grade industrial LCD displays.
Application Scenarios & Value Proposition
The specific feature set of the NEC NL3224AC35-13 makes it a premier choice for a range of specialized applications:
- Industrial Control Panels & HMIs: In process control or manufacturing automation, its robust temperature range and SR-NLT technology ensure the display remains reliable and readable right on the factory floor.
- Test and Measurement Instruments: For portable or benchtop equipment, the wide viewing angles and crisp QVGA resolution provide precise, unambiguous readouts of critical measurement data.
- Medical Diagnostic Equipment: The consistent color fidelity across wide viewing angles is essential for medical devices where multiple practitioners may need to view the screen simultaneously without misinterpreting diagnostic information.
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: Its durability and clarity provide a reliable user interface for high-transaction environments, while the replaceable backlight ensures a long operational life.
Key Technical Specifications
For engineers requiring detailed specifications for system integration, the table below summarizes the core parameters of the NL3224AC35-13. For comprehensive details, you can download the full NL3224AC35-13 datasheet here.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Technology | 5.5" Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) TFT LCD, SR-NLT |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA) |
| Luminance | 200 cd/m² (typ.) |
| Contrast Ratio | 300:1 (typ.) |
| Viewing Angle (H/V) | ±80° / +80°, -60° |
| Interface | 18-bit CMOS (RGB) |
| Backlight | White LED, Replaceable |
| Operating Temperature | -10°C to +70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -30°C to +80°C |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the integration requirements for the 18-bit CMOS interface?
The 18-bit CMOS interface is a parallel RGB interface that is straightforward to connect with many microcontrollers (MCUs) and System-on-Chips (SoCs) that feature a TFT controller peripheral. It requires 6 data lines per color (R0-R5, G0-G5, B0-B5) along with standard timing signals like dot clock (CLK), horizontal sync (HSYNC), and vertical sync (VSYNC). This direct interface avoids the need for external LVDS transmitters, simplifying board layout and reducing BOM cost for many embedded systems.
How does the replaceable backlight feature work in practice?
The backlight unit is designed as a separate, field-serviceable part. This means that after tens of thousands of hours of operation when the LED brightness naturally degrades, a technician can access and replace the backlight module without having to discard the entire LCD panel or the host device. This modularity is a core principle of industrial design, maximizing uptime and return on investment. For more information on the fundamentals of screen technologies, explore our ultimate guide to TFT-LCD. If you have specific integration questions about the NL3224AC35-13 for your project, please contact our technical team for expert support.
