What Is an All-in-One LED Display?

What Is an All-in-One LED Display?

Wondering what an all-in-one LED display is? Simply put, it’s a large format display, with all components housed within a unique device. Among professionals, video walls are well known for their complexity of installation and operation, but this new type of video wall smoothly addresses such issues by offering an integrated display solution that is easy to set up, use, and manage, while delivering advanced visual performance in any setting.

Keep reading to find out more about this new breed of display solutions or discover ViewSonic’s broad range of All-in-One Direct View LED Displays.

All-in-one LED displays have only been around for a couple of years. So, if you haven’t been assiduously following high-tech news outlets, you may appreciate that this article will provide a bit more context before rushing into the technicalities of this new type of video wall.

Within the field of large-format displays, it’s always been a challenge to provide quality visuals as well as ease of use, simple setup, smooth maintenance, and effortless day-to-day management. Many manufacturers have attempted to tackle this issue, but none of them have provided a convincing conventional product. It’s in this context that the all-in-one LED display first appeared.

This new product has had a fast and direct impact on the market. Bringing together all the components of a video wall into a single device, the all-in-one LED display directly addresses major operating issues that most users have encountered, no matter if they’re professionals or the guy next door.

Now that we have clarified the backstory that shaped the need for these new devices, let’s dig into the nitty-gritty technicalities and have a look at what they translate into for end users.

All In One Led Display Components

What is an All-in-One LED Display?

The term “all-in-one” isn’t just another marketing ploy but instead refers directly to an integrated system that simplifies daily operations and maintenance, thus providing a solution to the major issues encountered by video wall users.

In contrast to other products, these all-in-one displays combine all four components required to run a large format display in a single casing: the LED display, image stitching, a power supply, and a control system.

1. Display System

The display system, or screen, is perhaps the most obvious part of the all-in-one LED display. This pièce de résistance delivers stunning visuals to any audience. And these new devices really take the viewing experience to the next level compared to the previous generation of large displays. This is thanks to 4K resolution and HDR/HLG support (for the most advanced models) which provide an unparalleled cinematic experience, and with sizes ranging up to 216” (or more if two displays are combined), the screen provides new canvas possibilities for information delivery in public spaces.

What’s more, the screens are ultra-slim, especially compared to older LCD video walls. The thinnest ones are only 25 mm thick, which allows them to blend into any type of space easily. The secret behind this prowess? The screen is actually made of millions of tiny LEDs which act as pixels, instead of relying on the familiar LCD technology that requires a backlighting system to operate.

Using LEDs instead of LCD screens also means a different architecture than regular video walls. The display is composed of multiple thin modules, onto which the LEDs are mounted, and are then connected to the display case. Each module acts independently from another, which allows for frontal maintenance and easy swapping out of defective parts. Unlike in the past, there’s no need to throw away a whole LCD if one pixel screen goes bust.

Speaking of its display, this LED technology doesn’t only provide a wider color gamut than other types of large displays, but the colors produced are also sharper and more realistic. What’s more, the fine pixel pitch and luminosity of the LEDs also offer larger viewing angles and better visibility in general.

2. Image Stitching System

The modular design adopted by all-in-one LED displays requires — just like other types of video walls — an image stitching system to calibrate and synchronize all the panels together. This process is necessary to ensure the quality and integrity of the images displayed on the screen, to better enhance them. Without such a system, viewers would often be disturbed by not synchronized visuals.

If you’ve ever taken a panoramic photo, then you’re already familiar with image stitching. This same technology, which works by combining images with overlapping sections, is deployed by the best all-in-one displays on the market, creating crisp, high-resolution images.

At this point, you might be asking yourself “if image stitching systems were already around before all-in-one LED displays, why is it so special?” The big difference between these and other types of large displays is that the image stitching system is neatly integrated into the screen for more convenience. This also contributes to making maintenance easier and more efficient than before.

3. Power Supply System

The third major component of all-in-one LED displays is its integrated power supply system. Again, it might not feel like a major improvement, but it’s a big step towards more convenient daily use, and here’s why.

The LEDs on an LED display require a reliable power supply in order to offer power conversion and load regulation. This power supply system provides all of this. One of its most important features is its ability to convert alternating current (AC) power, which comes out of electrical outlets, into direct current (DC) power, which offers the consistent voltage delivery required by devices of this kind.

Manually selecting a power supply system for an LED display demands an awareness of the required voltage and wattage, a knowledge of core features, and an understanding of how to properly and safely install a power supply system. With an all-in-one LED display, however, there is no need for this, as the supply system is built in. Therefore, the LED display does not require any additional wiring, chargers, nor external systems, making it easier to repair and replace.

4. Control System

The control system is the brain of the all-in-one LED display. It gathers all the operating functions and commands in a single hub anchored to the screen (some advanced models offer a detachable system box for a slicker design). It usually runs on a proprietary OS or customed Android version for more seamless operations in a familiar interface.

On top of analog short keys, ports to connect external devices (such as computers, sound systems, external storage) and Wi-Fi input, the control system can also boast an HDBT receiver for easier AV management in big venues like amphitheaters or banquet halls. This last feature also allows the combination of two displays without any external arrangements.

Like other components, the novelty of the all-in-one display control system lies in its complete integration within the device. Having a central hub that can control the whole device instead of a myriad of individual peripherals results in simpler installation and maintenance for AV installers, and seamless operation for the end user.

Size of the Displays

The magnitude of modern, large-format LED displays can be difficult to comprehend, as displays have now reached sizes that have conventionally been associated with LED projectors, such as 108”, 135”, 163”, 216” … etc. The numbers are so big that they become abstract. Instead of reasoning in terms of display size, let’s focus instead on the type of spaces they can accommodate:

  • 108″ – Optimal for meeting rooms with up to 20 people present, these displays will also suit any boardroom. They are ideal for installations in shops or showrooms as they offer great visibility for people standing at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from the screen.
  • 135″ – Best-suited for lobbies or museums, this size effortlessly displays information in larger spaces, thanks to the wide viewing angles and increased visibility offered by the ultra-fine pixel pitch of last-generation LEDs. With a minimum viewing distance of 12.5 feet (or 3.8 meters), these displays can be installed behind hotel counters or above podiums.
  • 163” – Perfect for use within spacious training rooms, banquet halls, or houses of worship, these all-in-one LED displays can cater to crowds of 60 to 100 people. Since the audience must be at least 15.5 feet (4.5 meters) away from the screen, devices this size are thought to be too small for mid-scale event hosting.
  • 216” – The largest option available in non-custom-made video walls is purposely designed for big venues. Ideal for auditoriums, convention centers, indoor sports venues, or control rooms, they offer a massive screen estate that can display content and information to hundreds of people at once. Given its substantial dimensions, the first rows will have to be at least 20.5 feet (or 6.3 meters) from the screen itself for viewers to fully grasp all the content displayed.

Just from reading these few lines, you’ve probably noticed that all-in-one LED displays can be massive. It’s also worth noting that the “smaller” models (up to 135”) don’t have to necessarily be installed on a wall and are also available in cart-mounted versions. These models are better adapted to event hosting and multi-purpose rooms, as they can be moved around and folded away for easy storage.

Final Thoughts

Let’s come back to our initial question: what is an all-in-one LED display? Put simply, it’s a high-tech LED display that consolidates all its features into one unique device. Compared to older technologies, this results in a much easier operation and viewing experience for both AV professionals and end users. Having access to all the components at a single point also means easier maintenance, which results in lower operating costs in the long run.

Looking for more information on All-in-One LED displays? Discover all the solutions offered by ViewSonic.

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