Industrial Displays Decoded: An A to Z Glossary of Display Technology

A to Z of Display Technology: Key Terms & Buzzwords Explained

Navigating the world of display technology can be complex, especially in industrial and embedded computing. To help you make sense of the jargon, here’s an A to Z guide of common display acronyms, buzzwords, and their meanings — all explained simply.

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A

• AMOLED – A self-emissive display technology offering bright colours and deep blacks, commonly used in high-end industrial and consumer screens.
• Adaptive Sync – Technology that synchronizes the display refresh rate with the GPU frame rate to reduce screen tearing and stuttering.
• Anti-Fingerprint (AF) Coating – Surface treatment that resists smudges and makes cleaning easier.
• Anti-Glare (AG) – A coating applied to reduce screen reflections and improve visibility in bright environments.
• Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating – Optical layer reducing glare by minimising surface reflection.
• Aspect Ratio – The proportional relationship between a display’s width and height (e.g., 16:9 or 4:3), affecting image shape.

B

• Backlight Life (MTBF) – The expected lifetime of a display’s backlight before brightness falls below a set level.
• Bar-Type Display – Ultra-wide displays for signage, transport, or industrial monitoring.
• Bezel – The frame around a display screen, which can be ruggedized or minimized in industrial displays for protection and aesthetics.
• Bit Depth – Number of bits used per pixel to represent colour, with higher bit depths providing smoother gradients and more colours.
• Brightness (Nits) – The amount of light emitted by a display, measured in nits (cd/m²), important for outdoor and bright industrial settings.

C

• Capacitive Touch (PCAP) – Touch technology that uses the electrical properties of the human body for precise multi-touch control.
• Chassis Mount – Rugged framed displays for secure mounting in industrial equipment.
• Chroma Subsampling – A compression technique that reduces colour information to save bandwidth, commonly used in video.
• Colour Calibration – The process of adjusting display colours to ensure accurate and consistent colour reproduction.
• Colour Gamut – The range of colours a display can reproduce, often defined as sRGB, AdobeRGB, or DCI-P3.
• Contrast Ratio – The difference between the darkest black and brightest white a display can produce; higher ratios improve image clarity.

D

• Dead Pixel – A pixel on a display that remains unlit or permanently on, causing a visible blemish.
• DPI (Dots Per Inch) – A measure of pixel density, indicating how many pixels are present per inch of screen; higher DPI results in sharper images.
• DisplayPort (DP) – A digital interface standard used for transmitting high-definition video and audio signals to displays.
• Dust & Water Resistance (IP Rating) – A classification that defines the level of protection against dust and water ingress.

E

• eDP (Embedded DisplayPort) – A streamlined version of DisplayPort designed for embedded systems.
• E Ink – A low-power electronic paper technology ideal for high readability in bright light and static images, used in some industrial signage.
• Edge-to-Edge Display – A screen design that extends the display almost to the device’s edges, reducing bezel size for a sleek look.
• EOL (End of Life) – The phase when a product or component is discontinued, crucial for long-term industrial planning.

F

• Flicker-Free – Technology that reduces display flicker to minimize eye strain, important in industrial control rooms and prolonged use.
• Firmware – Embedded software that controls the display’s hardware functions and features.
• FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) – A flexible cable used to connect display components, often customized for compact industrial devices.
• Framebuffer – A portion of memory containing the pixel data being sent to the display.
• Full HD (1080p) – A high-definition display resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, widely used for clear and sharp images in many industrial and consumer applications.

G

• Gamma – The curve describing how brightness levels are mapped from input signal to display output.
• Gamma Correction – Adjustment of the luminance of a display to account for human eye perception, ensuring accurate brightness and contrast.
• Gorilla Glass – A toughened, scratch-resistant glass used to protect industrial and commercial displays from damage.
• GUI (Graphical User Interface) – Visual elements and controls that users interact with on touchscreens and display systems.

H

• HD (720p) – A high-definition resolution of 1280×720 pixels, providing good image quality and commonly used in lower-bandwidth or entry-level industrial displays.
• HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) – A common digital interface for transmitting high-quality video and audio signals.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) – Technology allowing displays to show a wider range of brightness and colours for more realistic images.
• HMI (Human Machine Interface) – Interactive display systems used in industrial automation for operator control and monitoring.
• Heat Dissipation – Techniques used to manage and dissipate heat generated by displays in harsh industrial environments.

I

• IPS (In-Plane Switching) – LCD technology that offers wide viewing angles and accurate colour reproduction, ideal for industrial displays.
• Infrared Touchscreen (IR) – Touch technology using an invisible grid of IR beams across the display surface.
• Input Interface – The physical connection (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, LVDS) used to receive video signals.
• Input Lag – The delay between a user’s input and the display’s response, critical for responsive touch applications.
• IP Rating – Standardized rating indicating a display’s protection against dust and water.

J

• Jitter – Small timing variations in the signal that can cause flicker or image instability on displays.

K

• Kits – Pre-assembled modules or upgrade kits designed for easy installation or replacement of display components.

L

• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) – A widely used display technology that manipulates liquid crystals to control light and produce images.
• LED Backlighting – Light-emitting diodes used to illuminate LCD panels, enhancing brightness and reducing power consumption.
• Luminance – The measure of visible light emitted from a display surface, contributing to perceived brightness.
• LVDS – Low-Voltage Differential Signalling, a high-speed, low-power method for transmitting video data between a display controller and an LCD panel.

M

• Matrix Addressing – The method used in LCDs to control pixels by applying voltage to rows and columns.
• MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) – A standard interface that connects processors and displays, common in embedded systems.
• MicroLED – Emerging display technology with self-emissive LEDs offering high brightness, efficiency, and longevity.
• Multi-Touch – The ability of a touchscreen to detect and respond to multiple simultaneous touches.

N

• Nits – Unit measuring display brightness (cd/m²), essential for ensuring visibility under strong ambient or sunlight conditions.

O

• OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) – Self-emissive technology with excellent contrast and colour, used in some rugged and industrial displays.
• OLED Character Displays – Small PMOLED displays showing alphanumeric characters in industrial applications.
• Open Frame Display – A bare display module for integration into kiosks, cabinets, or custom housings.
• Optical Bonding – Technique bonding the touchscreen and display to reduce reflections, increase durability, and improve contrast.
• Overscan – When the edges of an image are cropped off by a display, often a feature on older TVs or monitors.

P

• PCAP (Projected Capacitive Touch) – A multi-touch technology that detects touch through a protective glass layer for durability.
• Panel Mount – A display designed to be installed flush into an equipment panel or enclosure.
• Pixel – The smallest unit of a display that produces a single point of colour; the total pixels determine image resolution.
• Pixel Pitch – The physical distance between pixels; smaller pitch means higher image sharpness.
• Pixel Response Time – The time it takes for a pixel to change from one colour to another, affecting motion clarity.

Q

• QLED (Quantum Dot LED) – Displays enhanced by quantum dots to improve brightness and colour accuracy.

R

• Refresh Rate – How many times per second the display updates its image, measured in Hz; higher rates yield smoother motion.
• Resistive Touchscreen – Touch technology activated by pressure, suitable for gloved or stylus use in industrial settings.
• Resolution – The total pixel count of a display, defined as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080), affecting image detail.
• Response Time – How fast a display can update pixels, impacting motion blur in fast-moving images.

S

• SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) – Touchscreen technology using ultrasonic waves for input detection, offering good clarity but sensitive to contaminants.
• Scaling – The process of resizing an image or video to fit a display’s native resolution.
• Sunlight Readable – Displays designed with higher brightness and anti-reflective coatings to remain visible in direct sunlight.
• SVGA – Super Video Graphics Array, a display resolution standard of 800×600 pixels, offering improved image clarity over earlier VGA formats.

T

• TN Film – A type of liquid crystal alignment used in Twisted Nematic LCD panels.
• TN (Twisted Nematic) – LCD panel type known for fast response but narrower viewing angles, sometimes used in industrial equipment.
• Touch Controller – The electronic hardware interpreting touch input and converting it to system commands.
• Touchscreen – A display technology that allows users to interact directly with the screen using finger or stylus input for intuitive control and navigation.
• Transflective LCD – A display combining transmissive and reflective properties for sunlight readability.

U

• UHD / 4K – Ultra-high-definition resolution typically 3840×2160 pixels, offering four times the detail of 1080p for crystal-clear images in industrial and commercial displays.
• Ultra-Wide Viewing Angle – Displays designed to maintain image clarity and colour accuracy from extreme angles.

V

• V-Sync (Vertical Synchronization) – A graphics technology that synchronizes frame rate with display refresh rate to prevent tearing.
• VGA (Video Graphics Array) – An older analogue video interface still used in some industrial legacy systems.
• Viewing Angle – The maximum angle at which the display can be viewed with acceptable quality.

W

• WLED (White LED) – White LED backlighting for LCD panels, common in industrial displays.
• VESA Mount – Standardised mounting pattern for attaching displays to brackets, arms, or walls.
• White Point – The colour temperature setting of white on a display, affecting overall colour tone.
• Wide Colour Gamut (WCG) – Displays capable of showing a broader range of colours for richer images.
• Wide Temperature Range – Displays engineered to operate reliably across extreme hot and cold temperatures.

X

• Xenon Backlight – A type of backlighting used in some specialized displays for very high brightness.
• XGA (Extended Graphics Array) – A common resolution standard of 1024×768 pixels used in some industrial monitors.

Y

• Yield – The percentage of manufactured displays that pass quality control without defects.

Z

• Zero Bezel – A design where the display extends fully to the edges with no visible frame, creating a seamless appearance.
• Zoom – The digital or optical enlargement of the display image.

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Common Display Resolutions and Aspect Ratios

Name	Resolution (Pixels)	Aspect Ratio
XGA	1024 × 768	4:3
SVGA	800 × 600	4:3
WXGA	1280 × 800	16:10
HD (720p)	1280 × 720	16:9
SXGA	1280 × 1024	5:4
HD+	1600 × 900	16:9
WSXGA+	1680 × 1050	16:10
FHD (1080p)	1920 × 1080	16:9
UXGA	1600 × 1200	4:3
WUXGA	1920 × 1200	16:10
QHD / WQHD (1440p)	2560 × 1440	16:9
UWQHD	3440 × 1440	~21:9
4K UHD	3840 × 2160	16:9
DCI 4K	4096 × 2160	~17:9
5K	5120 × 2880	16:9
8K UHD	7680 × 4320	16:9
DCI 8K	8192 × 4320	~17:9

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Expert Touchscreen Integration & Display Enhancement Services from BVM

At BVM, we offer comprehensive, end-to-end touchscreen integration and display enhancement services tailored specifically for industrial and embedded applications. Whether you’re customising TFT/LCD modules or building complete HMI systems, our expert team supports you every step of the way, including:

• Touchscreen integration using projected capacitive (pCAP), resistive, infrared (IR), or other technologies suited to your environment.
• Optical bonding combined with anti-glare or anti-reflective coatings to improve sunlight readability, reduce reflections, prevent condensation, and boost durability in harsh and hazardous conditions.
• Custom hardware such as LVDS and backlight cable manufacturing, FPC tail positioning, bespoke controller and firmware design, plus custom chassis and bezel designs.
• Manufacturer-neutral advice to help select the ideal display technology—whether TN, MVA, IPS, or others—considering viewing angle, brightness, contrast, and environmental factors.
• Long-term availability planning including End-of-Life (EOL) management and forward-compatible sizing and connector strategies.

With over 35 years of experience supplying, designing, and manufacturing rugged industrial and embedded computing hardware, BVM is your trusted partner for reliable, high-performance display solutions.

Contact our knowledgeable sales team to discuss your industrial computing requirements:
📞 01489 780144 or 📧 sales@bvmltd.co.uk