Hi there, community!
It is me again, Theo, the Community Reporter! Here I am again to provide you with more info about our project updates. This time, I am bringing news about our beloved glossy Spectrum. With this topic, I would like to share a few basics about our glossy panel, and more importantly, I will talk about our meaningful progress on ES07DC9 (Spectrum 4K glossy). You will read all about it here!
Scratching the surface
Our glossy coating is not made simply by removing the matte film or applying a glossy layer on top of the current panel. Instead, we must replace the polarizer layer entirely. Since we cannot change the part of the panel on our assembly line, the revision needs to come directly from the panel provider, LG Display.
Source: LCD Basics /j-display.com
Following modification of this part of the panel, LG recalibrated its LCD assembly line, redo the certification process, tune the display color, and conduct durability tests. All these processes took time to get right, and when we finally got the panels ready with our customized polarizers, we brought them to our manufacturing partner.
Refining the edges
Implementing a glossy finish to our current panel required plenty of research and development (R&D). As incredible as it sounds, our glossy panel was handmade at the beginning while we await for its production line to be established.
This panel was used for our early engineering sample of ES07DC9. Because it is handmade, the coating couldn’t be applied perfectly, and the panel exhibits a cosmetic flaw. This imperfection appeared as a hair-thin line at the edge of the screen when there is light around. As can be seen below:
Cosmetic imperfection showed in ambient lighting.
Cosmetic imperfection shown in direct lighting, slightly zoomed in (excuse the dust speckles 
).
To fix this, we need to ready the panels’ production line, so we can let the machines do the job for us. After an extensive R&D, LG has now confirmed that they are ready to automate the production. Starting from the pilot production run, the panels will be produced using advanced and precise machinery.
Overview of our 4K glossy liquid crystal module (LCM). Using already improved glossy panel.
Close up picture showing the improved edges.
Project progression
Because our glossy variants are based on their matte equivalents, there is no need for engineering validation testing (EVT) and design validation testing (DVT). Still, there will be a phase of testing that will be conducted before ES07DC9 enters mass production.
Despite challenges caused by the Covid-situation in China, our project is still on track for ES07DC9’s scheduled release. Unlike the logic board factory, our contract manufacturer is not affected by the strict lockdown so we can still continue the testing phase.
For the testing, we have prepared an initial firmware build specifically for ES07DC9. The firmware is built based on ES07D03, albeit with a minor change due to different model numbers. While this is a minor change, we still need to anticipate any possibility of bugs. Product validation testing (PVT) will be paramount to point out and fix any errors that might arise before finally having our beloved ES07DC9 ready for mass production. We have also prepared test builds that will go through the quality control process (otherwise known as QRE test) that assesses:
Functionality and Compatibility
- Power saving and AC power consumption measurement test
- Firmware test
- OSD function check
- DCR function test
- Display compatibility test
- Stress test
- Display visual test
- Display Data Channel / Command Interface (DDC/CI) APIs function test
- Panel optical characters check
- Audio function check
- USB hub compatibility test
- USB-C compatibility test
- Audio performance test
Reliability
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test - radiation and conduction
- Electrostatic discharge immunity test
- AC power on/off characteristics test
- Thermal profile test for skin temperature
- Non-operating temperature and humidity test
- Operating temperature and humidity test
- Cold start in low and high-temperature test
- Package storage test
- Package vibration test
- Package drop test
- Wall mount strength test
- Monitor stability test
- Acoustic noise test
- Altitude test
- Kensington test
- Mean time between failures (MTBF) testing
- Rubber foot test
Durability
- Stand base support strength test
- Hinge fix strength test
- Hinge test
- Rotate adjustment test
- Swivel adjustment test
- Port durability test
- Button durability test
Safety
- Withstanding voltage test
- Isolated resistance test
- Leakage current test
Additional Features
- FreeSync Premium Pro Certification
- G-SYNC Compatible Certification
- Motion blur reduction feature
- VESA HDR 600
- Moving picture response time (MPRT) 1ms
ES07DC9s are currently going through burn-in. The screen goes through a cycle of colors to test the display’s reliability (this falls under MTBF testing).
That is all for now! Feel free to drop your comment below, and as always… Cheers!
