eCOUNT has introduced the CRTtoLCD-91 flatpanel controller for the development of customer-specific monitors, displays and control panels for flat screens with 4K UHD resolution. It features cloud connectivity plus an integrated RFID reader. The solution is said to offer high-resolution 4K UHD graphics, RFID support for screen unlock authentication, and management using cloud apps. This IIoT connectivity enables management of distributed installations remotely, monitor the operating status constantly and manage access control centrally. The company feels that the solution will change the way how OEMs design and deploy and how users operate their monitors, displays and control panels.
The controller from eCOUNT embedded is based on the Himax HX6310. This is a scaler chip which supports flatpanel displays with 4K-UHD up to 3840×2160 at 60Hz. The HF RFID reader with NFC support and WiFi cloud connection can be plugged onto the controller board. In the future, the company is planning to release a UHF RFID reader with a range of up to 10 meters serving the logistics applications. The RFID reader serves the function of user authorization management and identification of RFID tagged goods. The WiFi cloud connection can be customized as per the user needs.
For connecting the flatpanel displays, there are 8 VbyOne lanes at 3.75 Gbps/lane, or 4 eDP 1.2a lanes at 5.4 Gbps/lane. It supports RGB color formats up to 30-bit depth and CYbCr (420/422/444). The handling of Graphics and HDCP 1.4/2.2 protected content is done via DisplayPort 1.4 or DVI/HDMI 2.0. It also includes Dolby 7.1 audio and analog stereo sound and dual USB for touch functionality. Moreover, it has a keyboard/mouse and 1x USB for connecting clients to embedded computer systems. Also present are digital and analog GPIOs, for fan control and intrusion detection. The serial interface (USB to RS232) suits the industrial peripherals. For ensuring power to the circuit, 12-24 VDC wide-range mains supply allows control of displays up to 8A and backlights up to 3.5A.
This display controller is made available with certain accessories, ranging from a keypad with infrared-receiver and ambient light sensor for brightness control. Apart from the mentioned, there is RFID support, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and WiFi IoT modules for cloud connectivity. The cable sets for flatpanels and eCOUNT’s customer-specific integration are among other facilities.
Dirk Finstel, Managing Partner and CTO of eCOUNT embedded, said, “Today, the control of devices, machines and systems are carried out by touch displays and their peripherals. When it is possible to monitor the usage or to manage the authorization processes and user-dependent configurations of these touch displays centrally, even payment systems for pay-per-use applications can be connected. This is just one of many scenarios that can be implemented with our new CRTtoLCD-91 flatpanel controllers.”
