Sanyo Outdoor LCD Battles the Elements

With a tough aluminum case and panel built for brightness, the CE52SR1 was built for harsh outdoor environments that normal LCDs can't cope with.

When you’re designing an LCD to go out in the elements, it needs to be tough. Sun, wind, rain and the best efforts of meddling kids all conspire to break the sensitive electronics within. Sanyo claims its new 52-inch waterproof LCD monitor, though, is up to the challenge. The CE52SR1 uses an array of upgrades to beat whatever theme parks, stadiums, bus stops, railway stations, and even highway tollbooths can throw at it.

First, a marine-grade case constructed from anodized aluminum and anti-reflective, tamper-proof glass keeps the unsavory elements of both weather and society sealed out. The enclosure earns it an Ingress Protection number of 66, meaning it’s completely dust tight and able to withstand water exposure anywhere short of immersion, including low-pressure water jets.

Second, the LCD panel within the CE52SR1 has been tailored for viewability even in less than ideal conditions. It delivers an impressive 1,500cd/m2 brightness and 1,500:1 contrast ratio to beat the sun in brightly lit display areas. It also offers full 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 6.5 millisecond response time.

Sanyo will debut the monitor at Wednesday’s Infocomm expo in Las Vegas, but it will go on sale in October for $13,995.