B. A.Control technology within the hardware

Matrix wiring/LED operation at overvoltage

Matrix wiring is a simple form of control which requires fewer hardware components. This does have its disadvantages.

When matrix wiring is used, a block of LEDs is always controlled sequentially by rows and columns, as shown in the figure below.

As soon as electric current and ground are applied to a row and a column, the consumer which lies at the cross-section of the wired row and column is powered. This is an application of the rule that an electric current always chooses the shortest path.

Advantages of matrix wiring:

• Fewer electronic switches are used to control the LEDs, since not every LED requires its own switch. This reduces the component costs.

Disadvantages of matrix wiring:

• Darker image
• When matrix wiring is used, the LEDs of only one row can be controlled simultaneously.
• In the figure below, this is 16 of the 128 LEDs.
• While one row is controlled, the remaining LEDs lying in the other rows are off.
• As a result, technically speaking, the LEDs are off for most of the time, resulting in a significantly darker display than as if all LEDs were illuminated simultaneously.

Shorter LED service life

To balance out this loss in brightness, the LEDs are often operated at higher power when matrix wiring is used, making the LEDs appear brighter. However, this reduces the overall service life of the LEDs.

Individual control of the LEDs using LED driver components

This is the most common type of LED control at the hardware level. Almost all LED display manufacturers who produce contemporary LED displays use such driver components, making this type of control almost a standard for LED displays.

A special component which can simultaneously control a row of LEDs, e.g. 16, exists for this type of control. The color information for the LED pixels are transferred to this component and it calculates the circuit times for the LEDs so that the desired color combination is attained.

Advantages of individual control with LED driver components:

• Fast, simultaneous control of the LEDs with high image repetition rates
• Partial calibratability of the individual LEDs

Disadvantages of individual control with LED driver components:

The conversion of color information, and often, also the consideration of calibration data for each individual LED, is a complex process. A special component is required for all 16 LEDs (depending on the LED driver type, even only 8 LEDs), which is costly for one thing, and for another, creates excessive heat due to the processing requirements.

In doing so, a significant amount of energy is lost to processing power and heat.

Since the special components are mounted in the direct vicinity of the LEDs, the heat build-up radiates onto the LEDs. LEDs are generally very sensitive to operation at high temperatures. Thus the service life is reduced as the operating temperature increases, which can lead to a premature "defect" or make a new display acquisition necessary.

In summary, the disadvantages are:

• Increased power consumption
• High component costs
• Reduced LED service life

Multiscanning with LED driver components:

Various manufacturers implement a so-called "multiscanning" process, in order to save costs in the production of LED displays.

Definition:
When multiscanning is implemented, the expensive electronic chips used to control the LEDs are wired in such a way that several groups of LEDs can be controlled alternately with the same chip.

Folge:
If control chips are repeatedly used in order to alternately control LEDs, this means that the LEDs that are currently not being controlled are off.

As a result, several LEDs are always switched off at any given time, causing a darker display.

To balance out this loss in brightness, manufacturers often power the LEDs with too high a voltage. Since the overvoltage only ever exists briefly, this process works although it reduces the service life of the LEDs. In the end, the wrong corners are cut to achieve savings. Although the cost of components is lowered, more money is lost to the early replacement of the display.

deset-patented control technology

deset has developed its own technology for LED control at the hardware level.

In terms of functionality, deset doesn't convert the LED circuit times within a hardware chip in the display, as described in the previous example. Instead, this calculation is carried out for all LEDs beforehand in the controller computer. This results in significant advantages in addition to the advantages gained via LED driver components.

These advantages are:

• Fast, simultaneous control of the LEDs with high image repetition rates
• Calibratability of the individual LEDs
• Image repetition rates of 1,600 Hz and higher, without increased power requirements
• No heat development
• Full exploitation of the LED service life without intrinsic heat in the display
• Lowest power consumption on the market!
• Lower manufacturing costs than with use of the special LED drivers

In conclusion, it must be said: an LED display from deset is the most sensible option for standard uses in the LED display field, such as advertisement, information displays, electronic displays, open-air broadcasting, etc.

This exceptional type of LED control allows you to noticeably save power while enjoying lower acquisition costs and obtaining the same performance as from other quality suppliers.

Only in the case of special applications can it be that other displays are more suitable for use; in the same way that standard cameras and high-speed cameras differ in terms of nature/scientific photography.

Contact us personally - we will always advise you honestly and competently.

Comparative calculation for power consumption:

A display with a size of 20m² consumes, in continuous operation, per month:

Normal: 800 W / m² = 11520 KWh per month -> 2.304,- EUR
Effizient: 400 W / m² = 5760 KWh per month -> 1.152,- EUR
deset: 100 W / m² = 1440 KWh per month -> 288,- EUR
(at electricity costs of 20 cents per KWh)