Liquid Crystal Display Modules

An LCD is a multi-layer assembly composed predominantly of glass, liquid crystal fluid and polarizer. Users should pay attention to the following items when handling:

(1) Please keep the temperature within specified range for use and storage. Polarization degradation, bubble generation or polarizer peel-off may occur with high temperature and high humidity.

(2) Do not touch, push or rub the exposed polarizer's with anything harder than an HB pencil lead.

(3) N-hexane is recommended for cleaning the adhesives used to attach front/rear polarizer. Reflectors made of organic substances could be damaged by chemicals such as acetone, toluene, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol.

(4) When the display surface becomes dusty, wipe gently with absorbent cotton or other soft material like chamois soaked in petroleum benzine. Do not scrub hard to avoid damaging the display surface.

(5) Wipe off saliva or water drops immediately. Contact with water over a long period of time may cause deformation or color fading.

(6) Avoid contact with oil, fats or any greasy substances.

(7) Condensation on the surface and contact terminals due to cold will damage, stain or dirty the polarizers. After products are tested at low temperatures they must be warmed up in a container before coming in contact with room temperature environments.

(8) Do not place anything on or attach anything to the display area as this may leave marks or stains.

(9) Do not touch the display with bare hands. This will stain the display area and degrade insulation between terminals. (Some cosmetics are also detrimental to the polarizer film).

(10) As glass is fragile, care should be taken to avoid chipping during handling, especially on the edges. Please avoid dropping or excessive mechanical pressure/force.

Installing LCD modules

Holes in the printed circuit board are used to fix the LCD module. Please be aware of the following items when installing the LCD module:

(1) Cover the surface with a transparent protective plate to protect the polarizer and IC cell.

(2) When assembling the LCD module into the end product, the spacer between the LCD module and the fitting plate should have enough height to avoid causing stress to the module surface. Refer to the individual specifications for measurements. The measurement tolerance should be 0.1mm.

Precaution for Handling LCD modules

Since the LCD module has been assembled and adjusted with a high degree of precision, avoid applying excessive shock or force to the module or making any alterations or modifications to it.

(1) Do not alter, modify or change the shape of the tab on the metal frame.

(2) Do not make extra holes on the printed circuit board, modify its shape or change the positions of components to be attached.

(3) Do not damage or modify the pattern wiring on the printed circuit board.

(4) If fitted, do not modify the zebra rubber strip (conductive elastomeric connector) or touch it with another object.

(5) Except for soldering the interface, do not make any alterations or modifications with a soldering iron.

(6) Do not drop, bend or twist LCD module

Electro-Static Discharge Control

Since display modules typically contain CMOS LSI technology, the same careful attention should be paid to electrostatic discharge as for an ordinary CMOS IC.

(1) Make certain that you are grounded when handing LCD module.

(2) Before removing LCD module from its packing case or incorporating it into a set, be sure the module and your body have the same electrical potential.

(3) When soldering the terminal of LCD module, make certain that the AC power source for the soldering iron does not leak.

(4) When using an electric screwdriver to attach LCD module, the screwdriver should be of ground potentiality to minimize as much as possible any transmission of electromagnetic waves produced sparks coming from the commutator of the motor.

(5) As far as possible make the electric potential of your work clothes and that of the workbenches the ground potential.

(6) To reduce the generation of static electricity be careful that the air in the working environment is not too dry. (A relative humidity of 50%-60% is recommended).

Precautions for soldering to the LCD module

(1) Observe the following when soldering lead wire, connector cable, etc, to the LCD module.

• Soldering iron temperature: 280°C ±10°C.
• Soldering time: 3-4 sec.
• Solder: eutectic solder

If soldering flux is used, be sure to remove any remaining flux after finishing to soldering operation. (This does not apply in the case of a non-halogen type of flux.) It is recommended that you protect the LCD surfaces with a cover during soldering to prevent any damage due to flux spatters.

(2) When soldering an electroluminescent panel and PC board, the panel and board should not be detached more than three times. This maximum number is determined by the temperature and time conditions mentioned above, though there may be some variance depending on the temperature of the soldering iron.

(3) When removing the electroluminescent panel from the PC board, be sure that the solder has completely melted or the soldered pad on the PC board could be damaged.

Precautions for Operation

(1) Viewing angle varies with the change of liquid crystal driving voltage.

(2) Driving a LCD in the voltage above the limit shorts its life.

(3) Response time is greatly delayed at temperatures below the operating temperature range. The display area becomes dark color at temperature above this range. However, this does not mean the LCD will be out of order. It will recover when it returns to the specified temperature range.

(4) If the display area is pushed hard during operation, the display may become abnormal. However, it will return to normal if it is turned off and then back on, providing excessive force has not been applied.

(5) Condensation on terminals can cause an electrochemical reaction disrupting the terminal circuit. Therefore, it must be used at the relative condition of 40°C, 50%RH.

(6) When turning on power, input each signal after the positive/negative voltage becomes stable.

Storage

When storing LCD's, the following precautions are necessary.

(1) Store in a sealed polyethylene bag. If properly sealed, there is no need for desiccant.

(2) Store in a dark place; do not expose to sunlight or fluorescent light. Keep the temperature between 0°C and 35°C.

(3) The polarizer surface should not come in contact with any other object. (We advise you to store them in the container in which they were shipped).

(4) Environmental conditions :

• Do not have them for more than 168 hours at 60°C
• Should not be left for more than 48 hours at -20°C

Safety

(1) It is recommended to crush damaged or unnecessary LCD's into pieces and wash them off with solvents such as acetone and ethanol, which should later be burned.

(2) If any liquid leaks out of a damaged glass cell and comes in contact with the hands, wash off thoroughly with soap and water.

Limited warranty

Unless otherwise agreed, we will replace or repair any of our LCD's and modules which are found to be functionally defective when inspected in accordance with LCD acceptance standards (copies available upon request), for a period of one year from date of shipment. Cosmetic/visual defects must be returned to us within 90 days of shipment. Confirmation of such date is based on freight documents. The warranty liability is limited to repair and/or replacement on the terms set forth above. We will not be responsible for any subsequent or consequential events.

Return LCD modules under Warranty

No warranty can be granted if the precautions stated above have been disregarded. Typical examples of exclusions are:

• Broken LCD glass;
• PCB eyelets damaged or modified;
• PCB traces damaged;
• Circuit modified in any way, including addition of components;
• PCB tampered with by grinding, engraving or painting vanish;
• Soldering to or modifying the bezel in any manner.

Module repairs will be invoiced to the customer by mutual agreement. Modules must be returned in antistatic packaging together with sufficient & accurate description of the failures or defects.

Any connectors or cables installed by the customer must be removed completely without damaging the PCB eyelet's, traces and terminals.