Dual status profiled backlights combine two colours in a single device
For cost-effective, dual-colour status indication in displays, OMC has designed and manufactured dual status profiled backlights which are easy to integrate and drive, said OMC. The clear and bright backlight colour can be seen from oblique angle making the backlights suitable for industrial, petrochemical, instrumentation and medical designs
The backlights combine two colours of emitter in a single profiled backlight, enabling designers to use the single backlight source to indicate status clearly, rather than a single colour backlight that is simply on or off. Dual status profiled backlights provide a clean, bright and clear illumination for a display; these dual status profiled backlights are robust to extend product life in harsh environment applications such as the petrochemical industry (explosive gas detector systems, display systems for oil pipeline valves, gas and electricity metering) and in research, instrumentation and medical applications (life support system displays, imaging applications, measurement instrument displays).
Dual status profile backlights are helpful in industrial applications where colour backlights have not previously been a practical solution for displays. They solve the additional cost and reliability issues around adding multiple LEDs to a backlight cost-effectively when custom dimensions are required, said OMC. Dual status profiled backlights are easy to drive, take up less space in a design and provide a cost-effective solution, even for small to medium volume requirements, added the company. The two colours indicate status clearly and provide a way to attract attention even from an oblique angle.
Temperature status is a common application, where the use of a red LED emitter alongside a green LED emitter, enables a fast “switch to red” warning.
Dual status profiled backlights have individually addressable LED emitters. Available colours range through ultra bright blue, four greens, three yellows, orange, three reds and ultra bright white.
According to OMC’s commercial director, William Heath, the company pioneered the introduction of LEDs as a backlighting technology over thirty years ago with its profiled backlight range and invented a side-firing backlight emitter which illuminates backlights in a wide range of colours and brightness levels.
“Our new dual status profiled backlights are a further development of our award-winning technology and . . . can be produced cost-effectively, from less than ten parts to tens of thousands, with samples available in as little as five to ten working days,” he said.
Founded in the mid-1980s as The Fibre-Data Group, OMC is one of the longest-established specialist manufacturers optoelectronics in Europe, headquartered in Cornwall, UK. Accredited to ISO 9001 ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, OMC is a pioneer in the development, manufacture and application of cutting-edge LED and fibre-optic technologies for a wide range of industries and companies worldwide, and places a major focus on research and development, engineering and innovation.
OMC’s commitment to the highest standards of quality, performance and engineering support is recognised within the industry.
OMC has four key manufacturing divisions: Fibre Optics; LED Backlights and Optical Mouldings; Discrete Optoelectronic Components; and Industrial LED Lighting Components.
