Planar Embedded: The Engineer View

Planar Displays New Products at Society for Information Display Show

2009-07-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Planar featured several new prototype products recently at the SID 2009 Exhibition in San Antonio, TX, along with a wide range of the Electroluminescent products seen here that meet your needs for an ultra-wide temperature range, rugged at-a-glance viewing and proven technology display.

For the first time, Planar exhibited a green EL display featuring a wide viewing angle, alongside the existing transparent EL display that features unique, adaptive, rugged see-through technology. Also on exhibit were the marine and mining displays and a StereoMirror 3D display.

What type of display are you looking for? Request Planar's Design Guide to learn more.

Display Projects - Last Minute Issues

2009-06-19T12:08:00.001-07:00

Have you ever thought you were finished with your display project plan only to discover you had a last minute change to your product definition? These kinds of changes are not only time-consuming, but can adversely affect the project budget. Yeah, you can find lots of information out there that can guide you through the steps to create your display project plan, but Planar has created an easy-to-read Ebook that addresses answers to questions that will avoid killing your schedule.

Everything from regulatory requirements and changing product definitions to environmental considerations is covered in this quick read. Avoid overlooking these critical components of your plan. There's a lot to cover when developing your project plans for displays like custom displays and electroluminescent displays!

Share any last minute changes you've had to make to your display project plan with us! Do you use Ebooks to find answers to issues quickly? Check out other Ebooks on Planar.

Sailing news from Finland!

2009-05-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

The other day, I received some photographs on my e-mail, which made me conclude that Planar’s 12” marine monitors have found a permanent home in Finland. In the picture above you see LX1201PTI integrated on to the sailboat steering pedestal.

Our Finnish marine monitor distributor Navigreen is working in close co-operation with yacht builder Finngulf Yachts. They have just completed a project to create a 43 feet Performance Cruiser yacht, this being hull #3 of the project Finngulf 43. The good news for us is, that the yacht’s hi-tec equipment include two LX1200s.

The yacht, pictured on the right, is called Isadora 2.0, which to me sounds like a well-suited name for the era of Web 2.0 with all of its modern equipment. The official launch was on 1st May 2009. The yacht has been designed for competing as well as for leisure sailing. The picture below shows one of the first times Isadora 2.0 ever took sail on the Baltic Sea in April 2009. Steering on the starboard side is the designer’s son, Jaripekka Salminen, and on the port side Jaripekka´s brother Jarkko Salminen.

The original order for the yacht was made by Pekka Salminen and everything in the yacht, inside and out, is tailor-made design for it. The designer of the yacht’s interior is also Pekka Salminen of PES-Architects. Their references include winning an international invitation competition for new opera house in China in summer 2008 and they specialise in airport design (projects e.g. in Helsinki and Moscow).

There is a Planar LX monitor integrated on both starboard and port pedestals, which can be seen in the picture with Jarkko and Jaripekka. These are additional to the standard display inside the cabin. The designers and builders of the yacht have already complemented the monitors: Navigreen took a risk and convinced the designers about Planar as a new supplier of marine monitors and lucky for Navigreen: their client’s expectations for the performance of these monitors have been exceeded! Sami Toivonen of Navigreen says: ”They keep telling me: ’The monitors really are as great as you told us!’ and I am not just saying that, they are really pleased with the LXs!” Navigreen also supplied the Nobeltech navigation system for Isadora 2.0. Isadora 2.0 is also mentioned as one of the 2008 highlights in Offshore Spars 2008-2009 Newsletter.

Similar yacht with more standard interior and equipment will be delivered to Chicago in June this year, though that one doesn’t have the LXs integrated... at least not yet...

Checklist for Selecting a Display Vendor

2009-05-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

We know there are a lot of considerations in finding the right display partner. We want to make it easier for you to find the right fit. Request a display partner checklist and guide to making this decision.

If it is durable enough for OLPC is it rugged enough for Planar?

2009-05-12T19:07:00.001-07:00

Pixel Qi, is on a quest to lower the cost of an LCD. The originating work was done while Mary Lou Jepsen was at the One Laptop Per Child project. Wired gives a report on the current state of Pixel Qi.

I think everyone would like a lower cost LCD, but as with lower cost PC's there will probably be compromises. What do you suppose those will be in the LCD world? Viewing angle? Temperature range? Response time? Size?

Could this technology be interesting to Planar's quest for ruggedized displays?

We'll stay tuned...

Ultra-wide Temperature Test. Can a Display Survive -78°C?

2009-04-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Lyle Simonsen recently did a cold temperature test on several electroluminescent displays. Originally the test was specified for -60°C. Once that was completed successfully Lyle tested the EL displays at the lowest temperature possible with the environmental test chamber. See what happens.

Mobile Communication System Aids Fire Department

2009-04-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department recently installed a full-blown communication equipment package inside the department's public information vehicle. Tricked out with a keyboard, touch-screen monitor and flat-panel television which folds neatly in the rear of the sport utility vehicle, the County Emergency Operations Center can receive vital information in a matter of minutes.

With peak fire season on the horizon, the communication equipment will help provide faster updates to the public on any urgent evacuation messages and save valuable time. Planar's LX1200TI display was part of the communication package and is perfect for public safety vehicle applications. Key features like transflective AMLCD for daylight/night viewing, clear glass touchscreen and rugged design provide benefits critical in emergency situations.

What other emergency service vehicles would benefit from a communication display like this one?

PlanarEmbedded on Twitter

2009-04-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to point out that we are starting to use a Twitter account for PlanarEmbedded. We will highlight new resources and opportunities for special deals. Be sure to follow us to track our updates.

What embedded display topics interest you?

2009-03-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

We have a lot of display expertise and want to share it with you. Take a 60 seconds to respond to this survey and tell us which topics interest you or suggest a few of your own. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Fill out my Wufoo form!

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Thin Flim Electroluminescent (TFEL) Display Technology

2009-03-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

Have you been wondering how to reduce the cost of your display product and retain the outstanding design requirements provided by electronluminescent (EL) technology? Planar recently announced that our thin-film electroluminescent (TFEL) module will be used by Jetronic Technology for the domestic China market, as well as in a product manufactured by a U.S. company specializing in public safety products.

TFEL is perfect for integrating into products where extreme temperature environments and demanding ergonomic conditions are required. The TFEL display modules have been used in a variety of products and industrial display applications, including communication, petro-chemical and test and measurement equipment.

Request Planar's TFEL Display Design Guide for more information about TFEL display design examples.

Electroluminescent Display Design Guide

2009-02-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

We recently put the final touches on a Thin Film Electroluminescent Design Guide. We will make this almost 200 page guide available to customers who purchase EL modules, including electroluminescent glass.
Request a 14-page summary version of the EL Design Guide.

Ball Drop Impact Test on an Electroluminescent Display

2009-02-12T10:03:00.001-08:00

Most end users won't appreciate watching a ball drop impact test. It would be up there with a video of watching paint dry or grass grow. The engineers in our audience, however, will appreciate seeing how an electroluminescent display stands up to a ball drop test up to 32". We cut down 25 minutes of footage to 2.5 minutes.Let us know what other test footage you would find interesting, informative or amusing.

Ultra-thin Digital Signage - 1/2" Thick

2009-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Our R&D and engineering teams have been applying their expertise with LED backlighting to create a 32" digital sign that is only .5" thick. We're applying this technology to build ultra-thin and low power displays. Here's a quick video showing the digital sign in action.

What else could you do with an ultra-thin display?

Large Format Digital Signage Makes a Hit in Retail

2009-01-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

Who knew the number of people who walk through the doors of big-box retailers was greater than viewers watching Idol? And, since advertisers are frothing at the mouth to get their share of consumer dollars it all made sense why consolidated marketing practices referenced in an article in AdWeek are so popular. We not only see the usual end-aisle displays, but also in-store video networks displaying content on digital signage which we believe is the best way to get your message out to consumers. Talk about a way to intergrate the shopper with your products! Here's an example of a large format digital display that can be used in many retail environments:

In this display format lots of information can be displayed and, in a touch display format, consumers can interact to find information about products in retail stores quickly. What features do you wish were included in retail digital signage?

See-through Touchscreen

2009-01-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

We are obviously fans of transparent displays. Transparency opens up new possibilities for how people can interact with information. Here's a video, featured in New Scientist, that demonstrates how transparency and a touchscreen can be combined in unique ways. The demo of the NanoTouch was created by Microsoft.

Multi-touch Goes Prime Time

2008-12-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

With all the election coverage, CNN was trying out numerous new technologies. Here's a video that highlights the "magic wall" using a multi-touch interface. What other applications require this type of visualization? How big can a multi-touch interface be an still be useful?

Transparency as a Design Trend

2008-11-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

Frog Design created an interesting presentation on design trends. It's short but covers several emerging trends including origami, gestural UI (think Nintendo's Wii), and transparency. We obviously like the last one given our transparent display technology and the interest it has generated as a new material for products. See the entire presentation below. Transparency is covered on slide 8.

Design Trends 2008

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: social product)

Getting ready for Electronica 2008

2008-10-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

We are currently getting ready to send the demos to Electronica 2008. Here is a brief of what we'll demonstrate out of Planar's industrial product range. You will find our team and the demos in hall A3 stand number 259.

SD2620W, our largest 3D stereoscopic monitor, has taken up the largest box to be sent. You can find information on the full range of 3D products at http://www.planar3d.com/ We have also gathered a selection of our electroluminescent (EL) displays to demonstrate the variety of our wide temperature range products available. It is a good product range to show at any time and now with the extended operating temperature range from -60 celsius to +95 celsius, we are even more happy to exhibit these products. For EL facts, read more from http://www.planarembedded.com/technology/el/.

The green version of our transparent (TASEL) displays made it on time for the show with several other TASEL demos on display. Another product extension has been in the LX-range, where more marine monitors have been added to the range, so you'll find different sizes of the LX monitors on display at our stand. More information about the LX range for marine applications can be found at http://www.planarembedded.com/products/mariner/.

You're most welcome to come and visit Planar at Electronica 2008 in Munich in November.
Hall A3 stand 259.

LifeWalls for Rugged Applications

2008-10-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Interesting coverage on Panasonic's LifeWall product at CEATEC 2008. The examples focus more on consumer and in-home applications, but how would you want this technology applied in a rugged environment? Rather than a home theater environment, think field application with sunlight readability issues and possibly wide temperature ranges.

LX Mariner Gets Reviewed by Panbo

2008-09-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

Our product management team has been a fan of Panbo, the marine electronics weblog, for a while. Tons of informative content and in-depth evaluations. The LX1201PTI recently was reviewed there. Check out the photo comparison between the LX Mariner and the Garmin 5212.

If you are looking at marine electronics, Panbo is a great place to start.

Multi-touch Experimentation

2008-09-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

We love IDEO's approach to solving design challenges. They've been applying some of their design thinking skills to prototyping a multi-touch system. They have even open sourced the project. You can get a backstage view of their home-brew multi-touch project on the IDEO Labs blog.

Anyone else experimenting with mult-touch? We're interested in hearing about the highs and lows of your experiences. Tell us more.

Installation Milestone for In-vehicle Touch Monitors

2008-08-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Our team is proud of reaching a new milestone for one of our in-vehicle products. The LX1200TI has been installed in police cars, fire trucks and utility vehicles. The product has also led to the development of additional transportation displays.

Check out the press release about the milestone, and expect future announcement from us on additional innovations for transportation applications.

Customized Digital Signage

2008-08-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

Our engineering team has been cranking on an exciting new custom project. A few details were recently released about our collaboration with PRN, the leading provider of television networks in retail environments. Who watches TV in stores? Evidently a lot of folks as PRN is the 5th largest TV network. Here's an excerpt from an article in Inc. Magazine from a few years ago.

But PRN is the biggest television network you've never heard of because of these traits, not in spite of them. Its name stands for Premier Retail Networks, and it is the in-store ESPN of consumer products. In industry argot, PRN is by far the largest network in the domestic "narrowcasting" niche, the business of sharply targeted "out-of-home" networks that was born of the fragmentation of traditional television audiences. PRN responded to the fragmented media landscape with a question elegant in its simplicity: Considering that about 70% of brand-buying decisions -- Charmin or Cottonelle? -- are made inside the store, why not try to get relevant ads in front of shoppers at the moment of decision? "Where else," asks Jim Wiatt, CEO of William Morris and a PRN board member, "can advertisers get the message out better?"
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050601/tv-network.html

Check out the release "Planar Systems Wins Contract with Thomson's PRN to Deploy Digital Displays." Look for more news about this project later in the year.

What Touch Technology Should I Use?

2008-08-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Spend 90 seconds to get a short answer from Al Gard, our Director of Engineering.

Let us know if there are any other topics you want to know more about.

Show Us Your Display Engineering Skills

2008-07-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

We are growing and currently looking for an Applications Engineer to add to our team.Interesterested or know someone who might be a fit? Contact Bill Hanrahan.

The Applications Engineer (AE) is responsible for teaming with Planar’s Regional Sales Managers and Program Managers to assist customers with the development and implementation of industry leading display solutions. AE’s serve as the primary technical contact to customers for pre- and post-sales technical support. The AE will interact directly with customer’s engineering teams to drive technical discussions about Planar’s existing and potential display platforms. Additionally, the AE will be responsible for providing feedback and following up on technical issues with the Product Management team.

Essential Functions:

Provide product presentations and technical qualification of sales opportunities for the Sales Team.
Provide pre and post-sale integration and application development support to new and existing customer base. Manage the escalation and resolution of customer technical problems partnering with Customer Service as necessary.
Partner with the Industrial Business Sales Account team to initiate technical discussions with various present and potential customers.
Make presentations and perform product demonstrations to the customer’s technical decision-makers and assist the Sales team and Manager on sales calls when required.
Advocate customer needs to the Product Management team.
Create technical documents in support of sales process.
Assist the Regional Sales Managers with proposal creation and technical order review.
Provide technical feedback on enhancements and changes to existing and development products.
Advise management on issues arising from product development problems identified through communications with the customer.
Provide preparation and coordination of HW and SW products for use in both short- and long-term customer demonstrations.
Support marketing activities including trade shows, technical articles, as required.
Support engineering activities including among others product roll-outs and technical publication review in support of business objectives.

Qualifications:

Minimum of three years of experience generating best in class results in product design, project management or sales engineering, with customer facing responsibility, required.
Prior experience in the display industry is strongly preferred however systems level experience with video interface and network design is acceptable.
Prior knowledge of active matrix LCD, passive LCD, Organic LED, Electroluminescence, or vacuum florescent display technologies preferred.
Bachelor’s degree required. Preference for a focus in Engineering or related technical field.
Proven ability to multitask and be effective in a chaotic environment is essential.
Good working knowledge of PCs and electronic imaging or graphics, with particular emphasis placed upon knowledge of video controllers, operating systems, device drivers and global safety agency approval standards and processes required for system level products.
Conversant in system integration issues, connectivity technologies and architectures a plus.
Demonstrated experience in the creation of specifications for technical and non-technical customers.
Alignment with customer-intimate philosophy; highly developed team-oriented business partner skills.
Excellent written, verbal and presentation communications skills required.

Other:

Travel as required, at least 50% of the time.

Planar Systems is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Contact Bill Hanrahan for more details.