The military requires durable and proven technology to run safe and successful operations. The military can integrate more sophisticated technology into ruggedized defense applications as automation continues to improve. Among the systems that keep improving are military displays.
Certain conditions can impede military operations if the equipment utilized is inadequate. Those conditions include heavy rain, constant temperature fluctuations, various levels of shock and vibration, and lighting conditions- such as extreme darkness or sun.
Military displays can be designed to operate in the above conditions by integrating sunlight-readable, waterproof, touchscreen, night vision, and more.
Military Display Features
Along with defense subcontractors, all military branches continually search for displays that can fulfill their newest technological needs. An extensive selection of military displays and monitors is available for both (COTS) Commercial Off The Shelf applications and custom applications to meet specific environmental and mechanical requirements. Below is a list of the most requested features.
Night Vision Capability
The night vision imaging system (NVIS) is a critical technological component used by the military’s Airforce, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, and other ground mobile branches. In moments of complete darkness, night vision infrared technology creates a visible spectrum to make the surroundings detectable to the human eye.
The visible light spectrum is the fraction the human eye can see in the electromagnetic spectrum. Within this spectrum, the human eye can only detect wavelengths ranging from 380-to 700 nanometers when its dark visibility diminishes. Night vision imaging systems (NVIS) are one method for improving human night vision.
NVIS Displays and Monitors
NVIS displays are viewable in both day and night conditions but are designed to be challenging to detect from a distance while powered on. This makes NVIS displays a critical component for many military applications.
The Seatronx NVIS displays and monitors offer unmatched clarity and viewing to the unaided eye at night and are offered in numerous configurations for critical operations.
Sunlight Readable Displays
It is common for direct sunlight to reduce the visibility of displays, making them difficult to see and, in some cases, completely unreadable. During high-stakes military operations, incidents like these may compromise the mission’s safety and success.
High-brightness sunlight-readable displays are designed to be used outdoors in direct sunlight. Sunlight readability can be improved by increased nit values, anti-glare coatings, and perfected bonding processes. The nit value is the intensity or brightness of the backlight in the display. A nit value of 1,000 or above is ideal for external military use.
The screen type is another consideration for sunlight-readable displays, which can be optically bonded or transflective.
Optically bonded screens: Optically bonded displays eliminate internal reflection between the LCD cell and the screen glass. Optically bonded sunlight-readable displays include reduced reflections, reduced glare, increased durability, and even increased resistance to temperatures and weather.
Transflective screens: Displays with transflective LCD screens increase the screen’s brightness by reflecting ambient light. So the brighter the conditions are outside, the brighter the screen will become.
Weatherproof Displays
Depending on where the military is stationed, the weather and temperature might range from pouring rain and cold to scorching hot and dry. Military equipment must function flawlessly under all conditions, and displays must fulfill specific temperature range specifications. A working display should be able to operate in temperatures as low as -15° C – 55° C and as high as -55° C – 85° C while in storage.
Moisture due to humidity and rain can also pose a challenge for military equipment; displays with an IP67 rating and higher are ideal as they can withstand more prolonged periods of moisture exposure.
Touchscreens
Military displays are now available with touchscreen capabilities; unlike our phones and tablets, military touchscreen displays include specialized enhancements to meet the needs of the rugged environments they operate in.
Types of touchscreens
Seatronx is an industry leader in touchscreen technology and offers resistive, capacitive, and P-
CAP touchscreen options.
Resistive touch technology: Resistive touch technology allows the user to manipulate the screen using finger and non-finger inputs, like gloves and stylus pens. The device responds to gloved hands and styluses when pressure is applied. These touchscreens can also be more vulnerable to scratches than other touchscreen technologies, but they can withstand debris and contaminants.
Capacitive touchscreen technology: Capacitive touch technology reacts to the naked finger or a capacitive stylus pen and typically cannot be used by someone wearing gloves. These touchscreens are resistant to light scratching, moisture, and debris.
P-CAP technology: P-Cap or projected capacitive touchscreens are responsive and do not require any pressure; they can be used while wearing gloves or with wet hands; they’re resistant to light scratches and moisture, and debris.
Other touchscreen requirements: Military equipment like touchscreen displays must be designed to emit extremely low levels of electromagnetic radiation. Low levels promote safety while communicating and prevent localization.
Extreme Shock and Vibration
The military frequently operates in hazardous conditions where equipment is subjected to the vibrations and shocks caused by gunfire, explosions, and the rough movement of military vehicles.
Displays exposed to high levels of shock and vibration should comply with MIL-STD 810 requirements.
Certifications and Requirements
IEC609945 standards
The International Electrotechnical Commission sets IEC standards for the maritime and naval industries’ quality management of electronic technologies. These technologies are tested to meet environmental, safety, and electromagnetic radiation specifications requirements.
Environmental factors include the ability to withstand dry and damp heat, with temperatures of 55° C / 131° F. Low temperatures of – 15° C / 5° F. Withstanding vibrations of up to 100 Hz.
Safety: Technology should be protected against certain levels of high voltage.
EMC: Devices should emit low levels of electromagnetic radiation to avoid interference with other devices.
IP68 Rating
International protection ratings let users know how resistant a device is to water and other environmental factors like dust and sand. IP68 rating guarantees that the device is completely waterproof up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes and effective against debris.
MIL-STD 810
MIL-STD rating determines whether devices are suitable for military use. Devices with a MIL-STD 810 rating undergo various tests, including temperature exposure, shock exposure, weather exposure, and sand and dust exposure.
Military Displays Offered by Seatronx
Seatronx offers an extensive selection of Military displays and custom monitors for defense and Navy applications. Our Military displays are built to IEC609945 standards to meet or exceed IMO specifications. Seatronx works with U.S. defense contractors and Military branches to design, prototype, manufacture, and distribute ruggedized military application displays. Seatronx offers complete selections of COTS and custom configurations that meet MIL-STDs for ground, mobile, maritime, and air traffic control operations in all environmental conditions.
X.T. Series
100% sealed IP68 waterproof sunlight readable displays. EXTreme (X.T.) Series by Seatronx is a ruggedized IP68 all-weatherproof series of displays for exceptionally harsh and demanding environments where EXTREME protection is critical. The X.T. Series is a slim, compact, lightweight design; the XT SERIES housings are made from a milled aluminum alloy to create a ruggedized enclosure along with the IP68 sealed connectors to meet the demand of IP68 applications.
X.T. Series by Seatronx are multipurpose displays with unmatched quality and reliability that you can depend on. These displays are ideal for rugged applications such as military, industrial and marine environments.
M.F. Series Monitor
The M.F. Series Military Monitor was designed from the ground up to meet rugged environmental requirements. It can be built with an IP67 Front Face with IP53 Back for general rugged use or full IP67 for sealed applications. It comes standard with an Optically Bonded Lens.
M.F. series monitors have optional High Bright Backlit LCD Monitor, ITO, PCAP touch, Heated Lens, and NVIS Backlight system. It was designed to meet many MIL-Spec standards off the shelf, but we can customize it to any level if you have a specific standard you need to be met.
MIL Console and Rack Displays
Seatronx offers a full range of rugged military console and rack mount displays with A.C. and D.C. power options built to MIL-STD specifications for a wide range of shock, vibration, and temperature tolerances of -20°C to 60°C.
