Quick answer
LED information displays are categorized into two main types: as light sources and for showing information. Common applications include indoor household appliances displaying characters or dot matrix information. These displays utilize lower power than those used solely as lighting sources.
Table of Contents
Using LEDs to display information!
The two main types of LEDs:
In everyday life, the applications of LEDs are diverse, but they can be simply categorized into two types:
- LEDs as light sources, providing sufficient ambient lighting.
- LEDs as information displays, showing various types of information.
LEDs used as light sources are commonly found in various types of lighting fixtures. Depending on the product application, such as indoor or outdoor lighting, high-power or low-power lighting, different design considerations are emphasized. However, for LED design, common parameters include drive voltage, emission power, emission color, and color temperature. Additionally, heat dissipation design is essential to prevent LED damage due to increased temperatures.
The main difference between LEDs used as information displays and those used as light sources lies in product power and application. The emitted power used in information displays is generally much lower compared to light source applications. Moreover, the application of LED information displays is extensive, such as in various indoor household appliances, where LEDs are commonly used to display characters or dot matrix information. Drawing on LED information display manufacturing experience since 2009, OPTO PLUS LED Corp. introduces the four most common types of LED applications in information display in this article. We will also provide examples of products from our analysis of 100 LED display applications for product designers.
LED Displays with Character
The most common application of LEDs is to display characters, primarily Arabic numerals and uppercase/lowercase English letters. In large household appliances that require the display of a few simple digits or partial English text, a seven-segment display can be used. For displaying complete alphanumeric characters, a alphanumeric-display is suitable. Here are a few examples of LED character display products. It’s important to note that most of these products are standard LED display items already available in the market, typically featuring up to four characters. You can refer to OPTO PLUS LED corp.’s seven-segment display products and alphanumeric-display products for more information. Previously, we have discussed the structure of seven-segment displays and alphanumeric-display products, as well as how they can display Arabic numerals and uppercase/lowercase English letters.
LED Dot Matrix Displays
Another common application of LEDs is to display dot matrix graphics. A dot matrix display with a sufficient number of dots can be used to display various common characters. Taking Traditional Chinese as an example, characters can be displayed using dot matrix sizes of 16×16, 24×24, or 36×36. As the number of dots increases, the details of the characters become clearer. Please refer to the image below for an illustration:
Common Arabic numerals and uppercase English letters can be displayed using a minimum 5×7 dot matrix. The image below showcases examples of displaying Arabic numerals 0-9 and uppercase English letters using a 5×7 dot matrix.
Another characteristic of dot matrix displays is their ability to display graphics. Taking OPTO PLUS LED Corp. ‘ logo as an example, when displayed using a 32×32 dot matrix, it would appear as shown below:
Based on the above examples, products that utilize LED dot matrix displays often display both characters and graphics simultaneously. Here is an example below,It’s important to note that most of these products are standard LED display items available in the market. They are composed of product sizes that already exist. You can refer to OPTO PLUS LED Corp’ dot matrix display products for more information. Additionally, you can also refer to our previous articles on displaying information using dot matrix displays for further insights.
LED Indicator Lights
A simpler way to display information using LEDs is by using indicator lights that represent different functions or modes of a product. These indicator lights utilize standard SMD (Surface Mount Device) or THT (Through-Hole Technology) packaged LED indicators. Here are some examples of product applications:
Full Custom LED Information Displays
If a product needs to simultaneously display numbers, indicator lights, and other combinations, a fully customized LED information display is used as the display. Here are several application examples of custom LED display products. OPTO PLUS LED Corp. offers custom LED information display services. Please refer to our Custom LED Information Display Service page for more information, and feel free to contact us for inquiries and consultations.
The four most common types of LED information displays
| Type | What it displays | Typical form | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character display | Arabic numerals & upper/lowercase English letters | 7-segment (few digits) or alphanumeric display; standard items up to 4 characters | Appliances showing simple digits or text |
| Dot matrix display | Dot-matrix graphics & complex characters | 16×16, 24×24 or 36×36 dots (more dots, clearer detail) | Displaying complex characters & graphics |
| Indicator lights | Different functions or modes (status) | Standard SMD or THT packaged LED indicators | Simple status or mode indication |
| Full custom display | Numbers + indicators + other combinations together | Fully customized LED module | Products needing combined info in one display |
Conclusion
This article has discussed and provided examples of the four most common types of LED information displays:
- LED Character Displays
- LED Dot Matrix Displays
- LED Indicator Lights
- Fully Customized LED Information Displays
OPTO PLUS LED Corp. has manufactured LED information displays since 2009. In addition to summarizing the four common types of LED applications for information display, we have also written a comprehensive analysis of 100 LED display applications for product designers to reference. We are here to assist and provide further assistance if you have any other questions. Please feel free to contact us.
FAQ
LED applications in daily life can be categorized into two main types:
As a light source: Providing enough light for the environment, commonly found in various types of lamps and fixtures.
As an information display: Showing various kinds of information for a product.
This type of display is primarily used to show numbers and letters.
They are often used in large home appliances like electric kettles and speakers. A 7-segment display can be used for simple numbers or partial English, while an alphanumeric display can be used for full uppercase and lowercase letters.
A dot matrix display uses a grid of dots that can be lit up or turned off to show text or graphics. The more dots, the clearer the details of the display.
This is a simpler type of LED display that uses one or more indicator lights to show a product’s different modes or status.
They are commonly found in small home appliances like coffee makers and electric razors.
A fully custom LED display is typically used when a product needs to show multiple combinations of information, such as numbers and indicator lights, with a special design.
The article gives examples such as the dashboard of the Gogoro S2 electric scooter and the ACAIA PEARL coffee scale.
This article summarizes four common types of LED information displays and provides specific product examples. This aims to help product designers choose the most suitable LED display solution based on their needs when planning a product. This allows customers to design their ideal products at a reasonable cost.
How this article was checked
Author and technical reviewer: Jarvis Yang — Vice President & R&D Manager, OPTO PLUS LED
Test and verification method
Classify the required information before choosing a display: numeric-only, alphanumeric, free-form dot matrix or custom icons. Compare character set, legibility distance, pixel/segment count, driver complexity, refresh method, enclosure area and cost.
Sources
| Check | What is verified |
|---|---|
| 7-segment | Numbers; lowest drive and content complexity |
| Alphanumeric | Letters and numbers with fixed segments |
| Dot matrix/custom | Flexible text, graphics or product icons |
Final selection and production conditions must be confirmed against the exact part-number datasheet, sample test and approved drawing.