22/01/2002

18.1" Universal LCD Monitor...

Kent Modular Electronics Ltd. (KME) the Rochester-based Displays specialist has booked its first orders for a special 18.1" LCD monitor aimed at past and present industrial markets. The 19LM181A41UN model solves the problem of displaying low resolution signals on modern high resolution LCD panels.

For decades, twenty-inch CRT monitors dominated the Process Control industry. Now they are wearing out and CRTs are becoming harder to find. This is proving a headache for Process Plant managers who have neither the budget nor the operational window to modernise the control system. Where 20" CRT monitors can be found they are at premium prices – and are limited to the 15kHz to 40kHz scanning range. They have become an expensive short-term fix with limited low resolution.

As a result of developments on smaller-sized monitors KME has perfected the ability to interface with old-standard /non-standard low resolution signals and display full screen information on an 18.1" LCD monitor. The heart of the new range of monitors is a UK-designed analog-to-digital interface which utilises the latest pixel scaling processors. KME digital engineers have built on the company’s 25+ years of CRT monitor experience and a vast library of accumulated OEM Signal Timings and programmed this signal information for the scaling engine chipset. The analog engineering team have created signal recognition and sync. processing circuitry and the two combine to provide a modern flat panel display for old standards and new.

The 18.1" “UN” series is available as a Heavy-Duty Desktop model, as an Arm-mounted Display Head and in Panel & Rack mount formats. Non-standard signals from ABB, Honeywell etc. as well as CGA, EGA IBM standards can be input for a crisp, full-screen display. Modern VGA, SVGA, XGA & SXGA inputs are also displayed automatically, solving legacy problems and future-proofing the investment.

KME already exports 50% of its UK manufactured monitors to OEM’s and End-Users worldwide. The 18.1" UN series has been ordered by selected customers in Canada, Finland, U.K. and U.S.A. General availability will be in March 2002.