The rapid digitalization of the aerospace and defense industry has greatly benefited from the new era of display technologies in society as a whole. The conversion to digital information has generated exponential demands for displays and associated technologies, such as graphic processing units and video management systems. The revenue of display manufacturers alone quadrupled between 2012 and 2024(1), meaning that the actual number of display units is even higher, given unit price deflation during the same period.
The demand for higher resolution, faster processors, and advanced graphic generation has fueled a worldwide response, particularly from Asia, in the development of display-related technologies and products. As a result, it is now possible to integrate high-quality video systems with 4K resolution using commercial off-the-shelf products at bulk prices. This parallels the AMLCD (Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display) manufacturers offering mass-produced, low-cost commercial products, with a sub-segment of the market providing electronic off-the-shelf video driver cards for integration with AMLCDs. This ecosystem of AMLCDs and video driver cards is primarily structured to support the mass consumption of AMLCD monitors.
However, a vast number of niche applications, including aerospace and defense, are underserved by this broader, standard, low-cost offering. A previous case study discussed the limited support of AMLCD offerings for aerospace and defense demands(2). These demands are generally too complex, do not offer sufficient volume, require extended periods of performance, and involve burdensome contractual environments that are not commensurate with the financial opportunities.
In addition to unfavorable commercial terms, there are several requirements critical to aerospace and defense customers that are either plainly rejected by providers of video driver cards or, worse, ignored and left unanswered with limited buyer beware warnings. Commercially available video driver cards have not been designed to meet MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, or DO-160 requirements for performance under harsh environmental and EMI conditions. Typically offering a temperature range between -20°C and 40°C, these commercial options might fail intermittently or have highly reduced life expectancy. Additionally, the design and manufacturing of these video driver cards have been executed in accordance with IPC Class 2 standards, at best, and have not been adequately tropicalized, which does not satisfy most aerospace and defense requirements for high reliability, i.e., IPC Class 3.
As a result, unless a video card processing various video inputs and converting them to the required AMLCD format is designed into an avionic or defense electronic system, a specifically designed video card, such as Cevians’ PixelMaster family, is required. Cevians’ DE-PM-001 card has been designed in accordance with rigorous aerospace and defense processes and is manufactured to the highest standards, including IPC and J-STD Class 3. The components are selected and de-rated for long-term performance in harsh environmental conditions.
- GrandView Research, Report ID: 978-1-68038-760-5
- Cevians, Low-Cost AMLCD Is Not All Good 5.23.23
