OT: LCD Monitor Burn In.

farss wrote on 8/8/2008, 5:50 PM
I thought LCDs were immune to this problem and I was about to spec out supply of 20+ monitors/HDTVs for a digital signage job. Then I was pretty reliably told Sony AU had lost a bundle on a local high profile job when they discovered burn in on the monitors. They're now replacing them regularly.
Even IF a supplier give a 3 year warranty like silly Sony did the cost of physically replacing these displays will be considerable, I really do not want to have to bear that.

I'm still very doubtfull such a problem exists with LCDs or maybe it was just this particular Sony model which is very hard to believe.

If it's a generic problem we'll have to totally rework the content which will also be a major PIA. About the ONLY thing that's been performing in this entire project is V8, thank goodness for that much.

Bob.

Comments

Former user wrote on 8/8/2008, 5:52 PM
We had the same problems with some Sonys on an installation. Terrible burn in. Now when we spec a job, we provide for a moving screen saver of some type.

I don't think Sony is the only one with this problem.

Dave T2
farss wrote on 8/8/2008, 6:08 PM
Appears you're right, did a search through a local forum and several report exactly this problem with LCD monitors that display a fixed screen 24/7 which is pretty much what these will be doing. Other noted problem is the backlight goes yellow over time.

This is not good news at all and really raises a major problem with the very idea of digital signage as a replacement for backlit transparencies. I *might* be able to save this project but it ain't going to be easy and my client has already sunk serious money into this and I've put major hours into trying to rescue it for him.

There's a very serious lesson in this.

Bob.
Spot|DSE wrote on 8/8/2008, 6:29 PM
Supposedly, this is another benefit of OLED...But it's an issue that was raised at the last Digital Signage Expo, and is the topic of three different presenters at the upcoming DSE event.
farss wrote on 8/8/2008, 6:51 PM
Thanks,
yes OLED would seem to solve the problem and I have mentioned that to the client. Just that at the moment a 42" OLED is a bit out of their price range :)

We do have one OLED device, the EVF for a our SI-2K, and the image is to die for. This technology is very clearly the way forward.

Bob.
TGS wrote on 8/8/2008, 7:37 PM
I first heard about OLEDs, about the year 2000, I think, and I've been waiting for what should be the coolest 3-D glasses of all time.
Spot|DSE wrote on 8/8/2008, 8:21 PM
and I've been waiting for what should be the coolest 3-D glasses of all time.
I'm slightly more excited about the 3D Tshirts in HD. ;-)
DJPadre wrote on 8/8/2008, 10:46 PM
ive got 2 mitsubishi panels here... same thoughts re- burn in, until i left the units on while i would render... ddint think much of it at the time but now, the unit which keeps my taskbar on it, predominantly the windows clock, is burnt in.. so now i have a corner and lower strip which isnt as responsive... basically its like plasma burn
GlennChan wrote on 8/9/2008, 11:59 AM
On a really old Sony Luma model, it had burn-in problems but that burn-in wasn't permanent and would go away.

I don't know if these other LCDs implement some other LCD technology where burn-in is a problem. It might just depend on the type of LCD they use... as other LCDs don't do that.

Phosphor burn in CRTs and plasmas doesn't go away.

Supposedly, this is another benefit of OLED...But it's an issue that was raised at the last Digital Signage Expo, and is the topic of three different presenters at the upcoming DSE event.
But isn't the problem with OLED is that it is difficult to make large screens??
Steve Mann wrote on 8/9/2008, 6:00 PM
Yes, LCDs will burn an image into the front glass. Any bright light source will, but CRT's were blasting the glass with a high-energy electro beam, so the burn was more prominent.

When you sell Digital Signage, tell the client to expect to replace the display every two years because the backlight ages and the colors fade. Maybe not completely true, but it is what the big DS companies do.


GlennChan wrote on 8/9/2008, 6:26 PM
I don't think it works like that as I've seen many windows without burn-in. And in the Sony Luma LCD that I saw that suffered from burn-in, that kind of burn-in goes away.

Just sayin...
farss wrote on 8/9/2008, 8:26 PM
Might be some good info here.
The really scary part is that with two identical monitors from the same batch one had the problem and the other didn't. It'd also seem that some steps can be taken to reduce the risk or even repair the panel.

If we were just looking at 24" monitors I wouldn't be so worried. The design of them is pretty consistant and they're light enough to carry up a ladder. A 42" HDTV is another matter on both counts if we've got to replace them.


Bob.