Content last revised on November 14, 2025
NL4864HC13-01A | 5.5" VGA TFT LCD for Industrial HMIs
Engineered for clear, consistent performance in demanding industrial environments, the NEC NL4864HC13-01A is a 5.5-inch amorphous silicon TFT-LCD module built for longevity and operational stability. Its robust design ensures reliable visual data delivery where it matters most. Key specifications include a 480x640 VGA resolution, a 350 cd/m² luminance, and an integrated CCFL backlight driver. This display provides exceptional image quality and a streamlined integration path. The module's wide operating temperature range directly addresses the engineering need for components that can withstand harsh factory floor conditions without performance degradation.
Decoding the NL4864HC13-01A's Core Parameters
A component's true value is revealed in its specifications. For the NL4864HC13-01A, the parameters below detail its capabilities, providing the necessary data for system design and integration evaluations.
Electrical Characteristics
- Display Mode: Transmissive, Normally White
- Resolution: 480(RGB) x 640 (VGA)
- Interface: 31-pin CMOS (6-bit)
- Power Supply Voltage (Logic): 3.3V / 5.0V
- Typical Power Consumption: 2.0 W
Optical & Environmental Performance
- Screen Size: 5.5 inch (14 cm) diagonal
- Active Area: 83.52 x 111.36 mm
- Luminance: 350 cd/m² (Typical)
- Contrast Ratio: 150:1 (Typical)
- Viewing Angle: 60/60/45/55 (L/R/U/D)
- Operating Temperature Range: -10°C to +60°C
- Storage Temperature Range: -20°C to +70°C
One of the most critical parameters for industrial displays is the Operating Temperature Range. The NL4864HC13-01A's range of -10°C to +60°C ensures it can function reliably in environments that are not climate-controlled, from cool processing plants to warmer manufacturing areas. This specification acts like an operational insurance policy, guaranteeing the display won't fail when ambient temperatures fluctuate, a common issue that can halt production or compromise data visibility on lesser displays. For applications requiring even broader thermal resilience, the G084SN05 V9 offers an extended range.
Data-Centric Comparison for Informed Decisions
To assist in the evaluation process, this section provides a side-by-side factual comparison of key specifications. This data is intended to support engineers in aligning component capabilities with specific application requirements.
| Feature | NEC NL4864HC13-01A | Alternative Model (Typical 5.7" QVGA) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 480 x 640 (VGA) | 320 x 240 (QVGA) |
| Luminance (Typical) | 350 cd/m² | 300-400 cd/m² |
| Interface | CMOS (6-bit) | CMOS or LVDS |
| Operating Temperature | -10°C to +60°C | -20°C to +70°C (Varies) |
What is the primary advantage of the NL4864HC13-01A's VGA resolution? It delivers significantly higher pixel density for sharper text and more detailed graphical interfaces.
Frequently Asked Technical Questions
Providing clear, engineering-focused answers to common questions about the NL4864HC13-01A to aid in your technical evaluation.
- What is the significance of the "Normally White" display mode?A "Normally White" twisted nematic (TN) display means that when power is lost to the pixels, they become transparent, allowing the backlight to pass through. From a system safety perspective, this results in a white or light-colored screen upon failure, which can be a less alarming state than a screen going completely black in certain control applications.
- Is the CCFL backlight replaceable?The datasheet specifies details on the backlight unit, including the lamp. While CCFL technology is mature, its serviceability depends on the end-product design. Engineers should plan for access if long-term maintenance is a key requirement. This is a crucial consideration in the total cost of ownership for industrial equipment.
- How does the CMOS interface impact system design?The 6-bit CMOS interface is a straightforward, parallel interface common in legacy and embedded systems. It avoids the complexity and potential EMI concerns of higher-speed serial interfaces like LVDS, simplifying the connection to many microcontrollers and display drivers. This can reduce development time for systems that do not require full 24-bit color depth.
Strategic Value in Established Industrial Systems
The NEC NL4864HC13-01A represents a strong choice for maintaining and upgrading existing industrial infrastructure. In an era focused on lifecycle management, sourcing components that offer a direct fit for established designs is a significant strategic advantage. Its VGA resolution and CMOS interface provide backward compatibility, minimizing the need for extensive hardware and software redesigns. This approach de-risks refurbishment projects and extends the operational life of valuable capital equipment, aligning perfectly with industry goals of maximizing asset utilization and controlling long-term operational expenditures.
Operational Context: A Deployment Snapshot
Consider a CNC milling machine control panel originally designed in the early 2000s. The original display is failing due to age, exhibiting diminished brightness and dead pixels. The NL4864HC13-01A serves as a potential form-fit-function replacement. An integration team can leverage its standard 31-pin CMOS interface to connect directly to the existing controller board. The 350-nit brightness restores clear visibility of machining paths and diagnostic data for the operator, even under the typical overhead lighting of a machine shop. The robust operating temperature range ensures consistent performance whether the shop is cold on a winter morning or heated by running machinery in the summer. For HMI designs requiring sunlight readability, exploring technologies discussed in sunlight-readable HMI guides may be beneficial.
Technical Deep Dive: Balancing Performance and Longevity
The NL4864HC13-01A is constructed using amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFT technology, a proven foundation for industrial displays. This choice prioritizes manufacturing maturity and cost-effectiveness while delivering reliable performance. What makes a-Si suitable for this class of device? Its stability across wide temperature ranges and its predictable aging characteristics allow for consistent, long-term operation. The display's architecture is focused on durability rather than cutting-edge speed, which is often unnecessary for industrial control interfaces. The integrated CCFL backlight driver further simplifies the system's electrical design by removing the need for an external inverter, reducing component count and potential points of failure.
Application Fit: Where Reliability Meets Clarity
The specific combination of features in the NL4864HC13-01A makes it well-suited for a range of industrial and instrumentation applications where data clarity and operational robustness are paramount.
- Industrial Control Panels: The VGA resolution provides ample detail for displaying complex schematics, process values, and alarm statuses in manufacturing execution systems (MES) and HMI panels.
- Test and Measurement Equipment: In oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and other diagnostic tools, the crisp display ensures that waveforms and numerical readouts are precise and unambiguous.
- Medical Instrumentation: Suitable for patient monitoring systems or diagnostic device interfaces where clear, reliable data presentation is essential, though compliance for specific medical use must be verified at the system level.
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: The compact 5.5-inch form factor and clear resolution are effective for legacy POS terminals and specialized retail equipment.
Given its 150:1 contrast ratio and VGA resolution, this display is an optimal choice for text-heavy interfaces on fixed-position control panels where wide viewing angles are secondary to direct-on data clarity.
Future-Proofing Through Design Continuity
As industrial systems evolve, maintaining the integrity and functionality of existing equipment is a key engineering challenge. The NL4864HC13-01A supports this by providing a reliable component that adheres to established interface and resolution standards. This allows designers to focus on enhancing system software and capabilities without being forced into costly and disruptive hardware overhauls. By specifying components with proven technology and stable supply chains, engineers can build systems that are not only effective today but also maintainable for years to come.
