What Display Daily thinks: There are many ways that a manufacturer can mitigate discoloration or provide an alternative measure of their displays’ durability such as brightness retention (ANSI/Infocomm 3M-2011), contrast ratio stability (parts of which may be addressed within ISO 9241) but nothing specific enough compared to what LG is doing here.
The YI index is an interesting approach because it works for materials and is established in packaging and plastics, for example, but this may be the first instance of it being applied to displays. And thats a really smart marketing pitch.
You have to hand it to LG for driving conversation of digital signage in a way that makes total sense from the customers’ perspective, and that’s all that matters here.
It’s going to be going to be interesting to see how that pans out for the company in terms of actual sales or design wins. So, you can be skeptical about the technology and its performance metrics but you can’t fault the lateral thinking of the marketing people.
LG Introduces Anti-Discoloration Technology for Outdoor Digital Signage
LG’s Anti-Discoloration (the company’s trademark) technology for outdoor digital signage addresses a common issue known as screen-yellowing, which occurs due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. LG is claiming to protect display quality and ensure performance stability, extending the lifespan of digital signage used in outdoor environments. By achieving UL verification for this technology, LG has set a precedent, as there were previously no internationally recognized standards for measuring a display’s resistance to screen-yellowing. LG developed a comprehensive testing methodology and defect-evaluation criteria, which UL Solutions independently assessed to support LG’s marketing claim. This technology also includes advanced thermal solutions and panel materials to enhance reliability even in challenging conditions.
The UL verification of LG’s anti-discoloration technology involved aging samples of LCD optical film in a weatherometer. This testing was conducted using a xenon arc lamp emitting ultraviolet light with an intensity of 100W/m², at a black panel temperature of 90° Celsius, for 692 hours. The change in the Yellow Index (YI), a measure of discoloration, was found to be less than 30, with an actual measured change of 24.17. This indicates that the anti-discoloration technology effectively limits the extent of yellowing under these test conditions, thereby confirming its efficacy in protecting outdoor digital signage from sun-induced discoloration.
UL, also known as Underwriters Laboratories, is a global safety consulting and certification company that provides testing, inspection, and certification services. The company’s reputation as a respected standards and testing organization stems from its extensive experience in evaluating products for safety, performance, and quality. UL’s impartiality is generally trusted because it operates independently of manufacturers, providing unbiased assessments based on established criteria.
However, potential conflicts of interest can arise since UL is paid by manufacturers for its testing and certification services, which may raise questions about its complete impartiality.
