ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ

What makes a monitor screen readable in bright ambient environments? Brightness, contrast ratio, and how light interacts with the screen surface all determine visibility. Optical bonding addresses these factors to deliver superior clarity in high-brightness environments.

What is Optical Bonding? Optical bonding is a process that eliminates the air gap between a monitor's LCD module and its protective glass by filling it with a specialized resin. This technology improves screen visibility, reduces glare, and enhances durability, making bonded monitors ideal for outdoor and high-brightness environments.

Why Optical Bonding Matters

1. Clear Display

When light passes through the air gap between your monitor's LCD module and protective glass, it refracts and loses intensity, reducing screen brightness and clarity. Optical bonding improves light transmission by eliminating the gap, improving visibility, particularly in bright ambient environments.

2. Glare Reduction

Screen glare occurs when external light reflects off layers with difference refractice indices, such as that of the air gap and protective glass. This reflection creates a distracting glare that reduces visibility. Optical bonding improves light transmission by eliminating the gap, greatly reducing the amount of light that is reflected back.

3. Increased Durability

Monitors used in harsh environments need protection against impact and scratches. The resin layer creates a strong bond between the LCD module and protective glass, improving structural integrity.

4. Eliminate Condensation

Air gaps can trap moisture, leading to condensation inside the screen, causing the screen to appear foggy in certain temperature ranges. Eliminating the air gap through optical bonding prevents moisture buildup, addressing the needs of ships, offshore structures, warehouses, and other environments.

5. Accurate Touch Experience

Touchscreens rely on precise detection of finger or stylus input. Air gaps can cause parallax errors, making touch points feel inaccurate. By bonding the protective glass directly to the LCD module, optical bonding improves touch precision.

Delivers Clearer Images Than High Brightness Alone

To evaluate how optical bonding impacts screen visibility, we conducted the following test comparing a bonded and non-bonded monitor.

Proven Performance

Contrast Ratio (CR), defined as the ratio of the luminance of white to black, is one of several factors that determine the visibility of a monitor's screen. 10 CR (10:1) is the threshold at which text on paper remains legible. Anything below that becomes difficult for the human eye to discern. Using this as a reference, we measured the CR of two monitors.

The following table compares the CR of the DuraVision MDF2701W maritime monitor (with optical bonding, 350 cd/m²) and a conventional maritime monitor (without optical bonding, 500 cd/m²) when viewed under specific lighting conditions (measured in lux). The results show that the monitor with optical bonding and a luminance of 350 cd/m² has better visibility than the monitor without optical bonding and a higher luminance of 500 cd/m².

The CR of the monitor without optical bonding drops below 10 when the ambient light reaches approximately 5,300 lux, but the MDF2701W with optical bonding was able to maintain a CR above 10 up to 12,500 lux, meaning that a monitor with optical bonding is able to maintain clarity up to a higher threshold of ambient brightness. A monitor without optical bonding would have to have an estimated luminance of approximately 1160 cd/m² to achieve a comparable result to the same monitor with bonding.

Left: Monitor without Optical Bonding and 500 cd/m² (with protective glass)
Right: MDF2701W with Optical Bonding and 350 cd/m² (with protective glass)
 

High Quality and Efficiency Through In-House Production

At its factory headquarters in Ishikawa, Japan, ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ has installed a state-of-the-art optical bonding line. This setup delivers high quality and efficient production, enabling flexible and timely response to specialized market needs and challenging operating environments.

FAQ

What industries benefit most from optical bonding?

Maritime, medical environments, transportation, industrial settings - especially areas with bright ambient lighting.
 

Why does ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ produce optical bonding in-house instead of outsourcing?

To maintain strict quality control and respond quickly to customer needs. ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ's strength lies in supporting diverse markets, such as maritime and healthcare, with unique capabilities, while leveraging shared  technologies like optical bonding.
 

Which monitors offer optical bonding?

Select models from our maritime and medical monitor lineups feature optical bonding. For details on specific models, contact us.

Related Links:

Learn more about monitors for maritime