What is Optical Bonding? – Design Support

Introduction

Optical bonding refers to a protective adhesive layer, sandwiched in between the gap between the touchscreen and LCD to enhance its readability when installed in outdoor environments subject to drastic changes in temperature and humidity. When a normal display is used in an outdoor environment, in certain conditions, there are factors that affect its readability. The most common is condensation, which forms on the outer surface of the display, in the layer of air between the LCD and touchscreen.  Another factor is the reflection of sunlight, which can cause a distorted image on the display – the air between the two causing repeated internal reflection of the light.  Both phenomenon can be solved by using optical bonding.

The main purpose of optical bonding is to improve the display performance in outdoor environments. This method eliminates the air gap between the cover glass and the display.  Optical bonding also increases the display’s contrast ratio by reducing the amount of reflected ambient light.

Advantages

The main advantages of an optically bonded display also include:

– Increased ruggedness: Optically bonding the display and touchscreen improves the strength of the touchscreen overlay.

– No Condensation: The elimination of an air gap between the cover glass and the display means that moisture cannot penetrate and cause fogging on the display’s surface.

 Need Optical Bonding?

Speak to DSL’s technical engineers for no obligation advice – we’re happy to help!