Glossary
This section of our site is designed to help you learn any confusing terminology you may have come across.
Back Light
Burn-In
Burn in is a common occurrence in CRT monitors. When a static image (that is, non changing) is displayed for a long period of time, the pixels are actually burnt, leaving a shadow of the image etched into the glass. A common example of a static image on your computer will be the start menu button; even though the images on the screen change all of the time, the start menu button is always present. On an old display, it is very common to see the start menu button burnt into the glass.
Controller
In an industrial setting, a controller is an entire unit, commonly compose of (but not limited to) a computer, a display, a hard drive, a mouse, a keyboard, and a touchscreen. All of these components work together to produce the desired result, such as controlling a CNC machine.
CRT
Cathode Ray Tube. These displays are based on very old technology (the first CRT television produce in 1934!). These displays are bulky, and are characterized by a slightly curved screen. Some CRT units are available with a flat screen; these should not be confused with LCD’s. CRT monitors excel when they are used in monochrome applications; they display different shades of grey extremely well. This is very apparent when used in medical imaging equipment. These displays are prone to burn-in after a long period of operation..
Frequency
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display. These displays are based on a much newer technology; by comparison, the first LCD television not introduced until 1983. These are the traditional “flat screen” displays. With an average thickness of 3″ as opposed to 14″ (cathode Ray Tube), a more accurate description would be “slim screens”. These monitors are superior to alternatives for several reasons; the cost is lower, the technology is more reliable, they are immune to burn in, and replacement is easier. Monitech manufactures LCD replacements for many different applications, for many different makes and models.
Legacy
The term Legacy is used to describe any old technology that is still in use. For example, NASA uses equipment from the 1970’s still, because it still works. The old adage is true; if it aint’ broke, don’t fix it. The same holds true in industry; there is no point in replacing a million dollar machine simply because it is outdated (so long as it still works). One of the common problems with working with legacy equipment is that repair or replacement parts are either rare or non existent, and many modern products not interface with legacy equipment properly. T2 Industrial solved that problem; our displays are specifically designed to work with legacy equipment.
Low Scan
A low scan display is any display with a frequency of under 32 kHz (kiloHertz). 32 kHz is the industry standard. Modern displays are not compatible with old video signals, and as such, customers are forced to use old technology when their display fails. T2 Industrial monitors are designed to work with low-scan applications, so you can get the reliability of an LCD on a machine that would not otherwise be able to support it.
Monitor
Monochrome
Pixel
Resolution
Touch screen
A touchscreen is a separate component from a display. Essentially, it is a piece of glass or plastic that goes in front of the display and accepts input from the user. It can either be flush with the display (like in a touch phone, or a GPS), or it can be a few inches in front of it (like on an ATM / ABM). There are hundreds of different types of touchscreens, from many different manufacturers. At T2 Industrial, we can replace many of them; please contact us and let us know what it is you need.
Video Connector
The video connector is what sits on the end of the video cable, and what plugs into the display and the computer. There are many different types of video connectors, from VGA to BNC. The most common is probably right in front of you; the blue VGA cable that plugs your computer’s display into your computer. Since there are so many different types of connectors, we built a database of which displays use what connector. For example, we know an Allen Bradley 1400e will always use a VGA connector.
