Learn how LED displays work, advantages of LED technology, and what to consider before installation

Selecting the right display technology for your next project is no small feat. If you’re considering an LED display (also known as an LED video wall), read on to learn about how video wall displays work, the advantages of LED, and seven factors to consider before installation.  

How do LED displays work? 

LED displays use individual standard LEDs in three colors for each pixel: red, green, and blue. The LEDs can be combined into a surface-mount device (SMD). Each color of LED, also known as a sub-pixel, receives its own drive signal based on video content, allowing millions of colors to be generated. 

LED video wall displays use modular panels or tiles to create a large display area. Each tile is composed of a series of identical LED modules containing circuit boards that are electrically connected to ensure each pixel receives its intended and unique RGB drive signals and the power from the tile’s power supply. 

The modular design makes servicing LED displays easier. If an LED fails, you only need to replace the module with the faulty LED instead of the entire wall. These modules are typically housed in a cabinet that contains the power supply and the electronics that control each module and allow a connection for a video signal. Some tile designs place the power supply and control electronics in a separate enclosure that attaches to a frame holding the LED modules. There are also products with processing functions outside the cabinets. 

What are the advantages of LED? 

What makes LED technology stand out? Let’s look at a few advantages of LED displays. 

Brightness 

LED displays offer a range of brightness levels that other display options can’t, ranging from less than 2,000 nits (cd/m2) to as high as 12,000 nits. This ability to achieve high brightness levels is a benefit in environments with high ambient light, such as lobbies and atriums. When it comes to large-scale applications, other technologies either can’t compete or require more complex systems, like a multi-projector setup, to achieve brightness levels that rival LED displays.  

Color reproduction 

LED displays offer a broader color gamut with more vibrant, superior clarity and lifelike colors, making them ideal for applications requiring high color accuracy. To understand why, we need to look at two key industry standards for color reproduction: DCI-P3 and NTSC. DCI-P3 is used primarily in critical viewing conditions like control rooms, while NTSC, a standard in broadcast television, provides excellent color consistency and is widely used for LED displays found in corporate lobbies and digital signage applications.  

Seamless image 

One of the stand-out benefits of an LED video wall display is its near-seamless image. Tiles in an LED video wall are designed to touch each other without increasing the distance between the pixels from one tile to the next. The area surrounding the LEDs in a typical tile makes it difficult to see where they join from an average viewing distance. 

What should you consider before installing an LED display? 

When it comes to creating an LED display, there are several key factors to keep in mind as you plan your installation.  

Here are the top seven issues to examine during the planning phase of your project. 

1. Space

The space for your planned LED display may be the most important consideration when it comes to installation. You’ll notice it factors into almost every other consideration we’ll look at. As you get started with your installation, you’ll want to carefully consider your space and check the dimensions and placement of your planned display wall for optimal viewing. 

To do this, you need to consider the different viewing angles throughout your space to ensure everyone can see the video wall clearly. Some LED video wall solutions, like MicroTiles^® LED, can be arranged in near limitless ways, including 90-degree inside or outside corners, concave or convex curves, and even 3D shapes, offering you more possibilities for your application. 

2. Structure

It may seem obvious, but it’s worth noting that you need to consider the size and weight of the LED display you plan to install and ensure the wall or surface can support it. 

3. Pixel pitch

There is a wide range of pixel pitches to choose from, but the right choice is the one that fits your application and the viewing distance from your planned video wall. A smaller pixel pitch offers higher resolution and superior clarity for applications like control rooms, but this pixel pitch isn’t necessary for long-distance viewing in a corporate lobby. 

4. Viewing distance

There are no hard and fast rules for the optimal viewing distances for different pixel pitches. By choosing the right pixel pitch for your display, you can achieve the maximum impact for your audience. For example, when it’s difficult to see individual pixels from the typical viewing distance and intended resolution, your video wall still fills the viewer’s field of vision with brilliant light, color, and contrast. 

Here are our suggested optimal viewing distances for LED displays: 

5. Power and connectivity 

Ensure the installation has adequate power supply and proper cable management for video input, power, and control connections. 

6. Brightness and environment 

The environment needs to be factored into your installation so you can adjust brightness levels to ensure clear visibility without glare, calibrate colors, and ensure precise alignment of panels for seamless visuals and uniform brightness across the entire display. 

7. Cooling, ventilation, and maintenance 

Proper cooling and ventilation are essential to prevent overheating, especially in larger installations. Depending on your application, you may want to plan for easy front access to the modules for repairs and servicing to reduce downtime since you won’t need to dismantle the entire structure.