Display Comparisons : Optical Bonding vs. Air Gap Terry Trover March 11, 2008

Screen shots used for this outdoor demonstration Can you read this? Can you read this? Can you read this? Can you read this?

Optical bonding vs. air gap vs. laptop in sunlight 1000 nit LC1502R 15” monitor Left side of monitor Optically bonded, AR coating on surface Minimal internal & surface reflections You can read the map! Right side of monitor Air gap, AR coating on surface Reflections overpower backlight, unreadable 12” screen on laptop AG coating on TFT Not bright enough & too many diffuse reflections to read

1000 nit LC1502R 15” monitor

Left side of monitor

Optically bonded, AR coating on surface

Minimal internal & surface reflections

You can read the map!

Right side of monitor

Air gap, AR coating on surface

Reflections overpower backlight, unreadable

12” screen on laptop

AG coating on TFT

Not bright enough & too many diffuse reflections to read

Optical bonding vs. air gap vs. laptop in sunlight- repeated with different screen shot 1000 nit LC1502R 15” monitor Left side of monitor Optically bonded, AR coating Minimal internal & surface reflections You can discern color and read text. Right side of monitor Air gap, AR coated glass Internal & surface reflections reduce contrast 12” screen on laptop AG coating on TFT Not bright enough & too much diffuse reflections to read easily

1000 nit LC1502R 15” monitor

Left side of monitor

Optically bonded, AR coating

Minimal internal & surface reflections

You can discern color and read text.

Right side of monitor

Air gap, AR coated glass

Internal & surface reflections reduce contrast

12” screen on laptop

AG coating on TFT

Not bright enough & too much diffuse reflections to read easily

Optical bonding vs. air gap 500 nit LB1500R monitor Left side optically bonded Upper quadrant-AR glass Lower quadrant-AG glass Right side of display Air gap with polished glass Internal & surface reflections reduce contrast in non-bonded area (right side) Note specular reflection of fir trees reflecting off polished glass surface Note loss of contrast on right side caused by internal and surface reflections

500 nit LB1500R monitor

Left side optically bonded

Upper quadrant-AR glass

Lower quadrant-AG glass

Right side of display

Air gap with polished glass

Internal & surface reflections reduce contrast in non-bonded area (right side)

Note specular reflection of fir trees reflecting off polished glass surface

Note loss of contrast on right side caused by internal and surface reflections

Why you should never demonstrate an optically bonded product to your customers when ambient light is low 15” LB1500R : 50% optically bonded with AR film 50% air gap with polished glass 12” laptop on battery AG on laptop screen Lighting Condition: Diffuse ambient, no sun on screen. Monitors are situated underneath an outdoor canopy. Conclusion: without enough ambient light to generate glare, optical bonding will not demonstrate its value in limiting reflections. Air gap on right side of monitor looks as good as the optically bonded left side of monitor Laptop without bonding looks as good as the bonded (left) side of the monitor

15” LB1500R :

50% optically bonded with AR film

50% air gap with polished glass

12” laptop on battery

AG on laptop screen

Lighting Condition:

Diffuse ambient, no sun on screen. Monitors are situated underneath an outdoor canopy.

Conclusion: without enough ambient light to generate glare, optical bonding will not demonstrate its value in limiting reflections.

Air gap on right side of monitor looks as good as the optically bonded left side of monitor

Laptop without bonding looks as good as the bonded (left) side of the monitor

Conclusions Optical bonding with a AR or AG surface treatments make displays legible in bright ambient viewing conditions. For more information visit www.planarembedded.com/optical-bonding

Optical bonding with a AR or AG surface treatments make displays legible in bright ambient viewing conditions.

For more information visit

www.planarembedded.com/optical-bonding