Technical
Jargon Buster
| Aspect Ratio | A method of expressing the proportions of the length and height of a screen. The older 4:3 and the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratios are the two most commonly found in standard LED screen layouts. |
| Ballast (& ballast tanks) | Ballast is often used to secure screen hanging systems and add weight. SSV stock water ballast tanks, which are transported empty and filled onsite where needed. They are often used with our goalpost structures as listed above. |
| BNC | A common cable connection type often used on variety of video formats including composite, component and SDI cables. BNC stands for “Bayonet Neill–Concelman” |
| Cantilever | A system for hanging screens with the support structure behind the screen, as opposed to the sides and top, like the goalpost structure listed above. |
| Cat-5 & Cat-6 | Types of cable used for carrying data in computer networks and often used in LED screens. |
| Chain motors | The motors used in raising and lowering LED screens on temporary structures and stage sets. |
| Client | God. |
| Colour Temperature | A standardised system for describing different colours expressed in units of Kelvins e.g. overcast daylight is around 7000 kelvins, household light bulbs are around 2,500 kelvins. The processors of SSV’s LED screens can calibrate to various colour temperatures as required. |
| Component | A video signal that has been separated into 3 separate components (RGB). |
| Composite | A common video signal system in which all elements of the signal are on one cable. |
| Contrast | The difference between a screen’s potential darkest and and brightest points. Also a control parameter within an LED processor for changing the contrast of an incoming video signal and how it is viewed on the screen. |
| Discrete LED | The traditional method of LED screen manufacture where each LED (red, green & blue) within the pixel is individually visible and protrudes from the tile on which it is mounted. The alternative is SMD technology, see below. |
| Dollies | Non-covered trolley type units used for transporting and quick rigging of LED screens. |
| Effective resolution | The resolution of an LED screen including any enhanced or virtual pixel technology. See “Virtual Pixel’ below. |
| Fibre optic Cable | Light weight cabling made with bandwidth that can carry signal longer distance than conventional video cables. |
| Goalpost structure | A truss structure for hanging LED screens. The name is derived from the shape which resembles a football goalpost with the screen hanging between the bars. |
| HDMI | High Definition Multimedia Interface. A common interface for digital video and sound. |
| Hippotizer | A high end media server typically used in TV broadcast and music concerts. |
| Humbucker | A device used for removing elector-magnetic interference on a video signal known as ‘Hum.’ |
| I.M.’s | An acronym for ‘Intelligent Modules’ which refers to the ability of an LED tile (see below) to share information with its controlling processor. |
| IMAG | An abbreviation of ‘Image Magnification’, meaning that screens are showing large images of what is happening at an event so people can see easier. |
| Ingress protection (IP) | The measurement of an electrical device’s inherent protection from rain. |
| Kelly Blocks | Concrete blocks used for ballast (see above). Usually smaller in dimensions than water ballast tanks. |
| LCD | Liquid Crystal Display. As used on computers and large indoor flat screens TV’s and computer monitors. |
| LED | Light Emitting Diode. LED screens are made up of red, green & blue LED’s, from these 3 colours full video can be reproduced. |
| Loom | A group of cables, often in one casing, for carrying several video and other signal formats. |
| Maxi/midi/mini beam | Different sizes and strengths of metal truss used for supporting or hanging LED screens. |
| Media server | A modern computer based system of storing, controlling and manipulating images on screens in highly creative and adaptable ways. Also see Hippotizer above. |
| Microwave link / Transmitter / Receiver | A system for wirelessly transmitting video over mid-level distances. |
| Mobile screen | An LED screen mounted on hydraulics on a trailer pulled by a jeep or a truck (depending on size) that can be set up quickly by one technician. |
| Moduar screen | Individual LED screen modules that are slotted together to form the larger screens seen at concerts, events and on TV. |
| Modules | The individual boxes that clamp together to make a complete LED screen are referred to as Modules. Not to be confused with I.M.’s as listed above! |
| NITs | The unit for measuring light output on an LED screen. Simply put, more NITs = more brightness. To put it more technically it is a measure of candella per square metre. |
| O.B. | Stands for Outside Broadcast and refers to all the equipment and crewing used to shoot/record an event on location, as opposed to in a TV studio. |
| Perimeter LED banners | Advertising LED banners placed on the side of football pitches and other events to show advertising. |
| Physical resolution | The distance between pixels on an LED screen irrespective of any enhanced or virtual pixel technology. |
| Pitchside LED banners | See Perimeter LED Banners above. |
| Pixel pitch | The distance between LED pixels in millimetres. A 10mm resolution indicates that there is 10mm between the centre of each pixel in that screen. |
| PPU | Portable Production Unit. A simple outside broadcast/AV control system. |
| Processor | The controlling device of an LED screen which determines picture size and colour attributes and deals with the physical video inputs to the screen. |
| PSU | An acronym for Power Supply Unit. |
| Refresh rate | The speed at which a screen refreshes the viewed image. |
| Resolution | The term resolution can have different meanings. With LED screens resolution typically refers to the distance in milimetres between neighbouring pixels (see also Pixel Pitch). In computer monitors and in the creation of graphic and video content it usually refers to horizontal x vertical number of pixels in an image. |
| RF | Radio Frequency. |
| RGB | Red/Green/Blue. The 3 colours that are the building blocks of broadcast video. |
| Rigging | The motors, mechanics and systems used to raise, lower and affix LED screens onto structures. |
| RX | Receiver. |
| Scaler | A device that is typically used in LED screen systems to match the incoming video signal to the exact size of the LED screen. While the word scaling refers to the sizing of a video image, modern professional video scalers do a lot more than just sizing and are used for comprehensive control over the image. |
| SDI (and HD-SDI) | An acronym for Serial Digital Interface, an interface for digital video used in the broadcast industry. |
| SMD | An acronym for Surface Mount Device. In LED screens this refers to the modern method of mounting LED’s within a pixel in a much smaller space than the conventional discrete LED method (see below). This results in visual improvements incl. closer viewing distances. |
| Span-sets | Similar in function to Steels (below) but made of soft material, not steel wire. |
| Steels | Steel rope used for rigging screens and connecting support structures to ballast. |
| Tiles | The viewable facing of an LED screen that contains the LED’s is comprised of many smaller units, these units are called tiles. |
| Touring Frames | A framework at the rear of an LED screen module in which several modules are transported and rigged leading to quick rig times and sturdy hanging structures. |
| TX | Transmitter. |
| Viewing angles | The optimum horizontal & vertical areas in which to view an LED screen. |
| Virtual pixel | A system whereby manufacturers use processing and extra LED’s in each pixel to increase the perceived resolution of an LED screen. |
Have you any question you’d like answered on LED screens and related technology?
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