Small Pixel Pitch LED Screen System and HDR Display Implementation

With the advancement of LED display technology, especially the emergence of small pixel pitch LED screens, the clarity and visual effects of LED displays have significantly improved. However, this has also introduced new challenges for system wiring and display technology. As the pixel pitch decreases, the number of LED pixels per panel increases, requiring more receiving cards and a more complex wiring system to drive the display. Meanwhile, HDR (High Dynamic Range) display technology has gradually been adopted in LED screens, enhancing brightness, contrast, and color performance for an even better viewing experience. This article explores the system wiring of small pixel pitch LED screens and the implementation methods of HDR display technology.

1. System Wiring for Small Pixel Pitch LED Screens

As LED pixel pitch becomes smaller, such as 1.5mm, 1.2mm, or even smaller, the density of LED pixels on the screen increases. This results in more pixels per panel, and thus, more receiving cards are needed to drive these pixels. A typical LED panel might require two, three, or even four receiving cards. Traditional LED screens use a single Ethernet cable to connect components, but with the increasing number of pixels, each Ethernet cable can only support up to 650,000 pixels, which means the standard horizontal wiring method is no longer suitable for small pixel pitch LED displays.

To address this issue, vertical wiring is employed to ensure sufficient bandwidth for the larger pixel load. Vertical cabling allows each Ethernet cable to maximize its pixel-carrying capacity, avoiding bottlenecks in signal transmission. For the same physical screen area, a standard LED screen may require three Ethernet cables, while a small pixel pitch LED screen may need five cables, all vertically aligned. This ensures that the increased pixel count can be managed efficiently without overloading the bandwidth of a single cable.

2. HDR Display Implementation for LED Screens

High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology enhances the brightness, contrast, and color depth of an LED display, significantly improving visual quality. Currently, there are two main methods to implement HDR on LED screens: using HDR-capable video processors or using HDR-capable sending cards. Below are detailed explanations of both methods:

• HDR Display Using a Video Processor:

In this method, the HDR video source is first fed into an HDR-compatible video processor, which handles the decoding of the HDR content. Most HDR content is 4K video, so after the video processor decodes the HDR source, it then splits the video into multiple segments for the LED screen. These segments are sent to the sending cards, which handle the encoding and transmission of the content to the receiving cards. Finally, the receiving cards decode the content and display it on the LED screen.

In this setup, the video processor plays a crucial role in managing the HDR content, while the sending cards focus on encoding and transmitting the data. The main advantage of this method is that it can work with any LED screen system, providing high compatibility without needing special settings for the sending or receiving cards. This makes it a flexible and easy-to-implement solution for businesses that want to add HDR capability to their LED displays.

• HDR Display Using Sending Cards:

In this approach, the HDR video source is directly fed into the sending card system, which handles both decoding and encoding. The sending card processes the HDR content and re-encodes it with special markers for HDR, which are then transmitted to the receiving cards. The receiving cards recognize these HDR markers and drive the LED screen using the HDR format. This method relies on the cooperation between the sending cards and receiving cards to deliver the HDR content.

The advantage of this method is its simplicity, as the sending cards handle most of the work without needing additional video processors. This reduces the complexity of the overall system and allows for direct HDR implementation within the existing LED setup.

3. HDR Display with Video Processor: A Closer Look

When using a video processor to achieve HDR display, the processor is responsible for decoding and re-encoding the HDR video before transmitting it to the LED screen. The re-encoded video contains relative values for color gamut, brightness, and contrast, which are sent to the sending and receiving cards. In this scenario, no special adjustments are required for the sending or receiving cards, as they function as passive components in the system, simply transmitting and displaying the data.

This method is highly compatible with various HDR standards and adaptive to different display devices, similar to the HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) standard for HDR. It provides users with an easy-to-use solution that works across different LED systems, enabling HDR functionality with minimal effort. This approach has proven convenient for users, offering flexibility while significantly improving the quality of LED screen displays.

4. Conclusion

The evolution of LED display technology, particularly with the rise of small pixel pitch LED screens and HDR display technology, has significantly enhanced the viewing experience for a wide range of applications. With innovative wiring solutions and the adoption of HDR, LED screens are now capable of delivering higher resolution, more vibrant colors, and better contrast, all while adapting to different usage scenarios.

Whether achieved through a video processor or sending card system, HDR technology allows LED screens to display more realistic, detailed images, enhancing the viewer's experience. As the industry continues to develop, the combination of small pixel pitch LED screens and HDR technology will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of LED displays for advertising, events, and control centers. This powerful combination offers high-quality, scalable solutions for businesses looking to make a lasting impression.