Stripping an LCD Panel
From Lumenlab
Also of importance is a problem with the way that some monitors are designed. In order to make the monitors as flat as possible some manufacturers ‘fold’ the circuitry over the back of the lcd panel and then attach the circuitry with a short flat flexible cable. The cable may be too short to allow the circuit board to be moved away from the lcd panel, which would cause the circuit board to block some light through the panel. Lengthening this cable can be very difficult, although not impossible. It’s best to stick with a panel that is known not to have this problem. Check the list of compatible panels.
Disassemble with care
Take care when disassembling the monitor. Be careful not to scratch the surface of the lcd on either side. The dark films on each side of the monitor are polarizers, they are necessary for the lcd to work properly, DO NOT remove them. The lcd is made of glass and can break easily. Never force anything. Remove the back light and all associated components in sequence. Remove the diffuser sheets if necessary, you should not have to peel anything! The entire disassembly should be like dismantling a sandwich.
Flat flexible cable can be a problem
Edge connectors are fragile!
When your panel is nearly stripped, start paying attention to the edge connectors. They are delicate and cannot be flexed very much. If one were to break part of your panel would not work. They are next to impossible to repair! At this point you should consider supporting the edge connectors. Many lcds are mounted in a metal frame. This frame can be used to support the edge connectors by applying silicone glue the the edge connector tops and gluing the metal frame to the connectors.
Reattach all the necessary circuitry needed to drive the panel, everything but the back light. Consider how you will mount this circuitry in your enclosure. If the monitor had adjustment buttons, you will need to integrate these into your enclosure design. Take your time with everything, when in doubt..stop! When your monitor is stripped you can test it’s function by placing a light behind the lcd panel and powering it on with a signal source...cool huh?
Detailed tutorials for stripping an LCD monitor can be found on the Lumenlab user forums
